Illinois’ 34-16 loss to Ohio State exposed an urgent problem for Bret Bielema’s team. Against the Buckeyes, Illinois’ line struggled to protect quarterback Luke Altmyer, allowing pressure that disrupted the offense. Ohio State’s aggressive defensive front repeatedly beat the right side of the line, especially right tackle Melvin Priestly and right guard Brandon Henderson. That, in turn, forced Luke Altmyer into hurried throws and limited big plays. As the game ended, the offense managed only 295 yards and compelled Altmyer to average a mere 5.6 yards per throw.

This calls for serious introspection on the primary side of the ball. “This is a very important week to assess who we are and what we can do better,” Bielema said. “Personnel, I think, would be the biggest thing. ‘What can our personnel do really well? And then, offensively maximize the strengths of Luke.'” Now this is being done because Altmyer has been a rock for the Illini. Through six games in 2025, he has completed 109 of 148 passes for 1,573 yards, throwing 12 touchdowns with no interceptions. Bielema places more trust in him than in any other quarterback he’s coached at Illinois.

Things went south when Altmyer threw his first interception of the season, while giving a tipped pass to Hank Beatty. That turnover set up Ohio State’s early 10-0 lead and put Illinois on the back foot immediately. On top of that, Altmyer was sacked thrice by OSU defensive end Caden Curry. In the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes kept starting near midfield, around their own 49 yards. Illinois didn’t help themselves either, coughing up two fumbles in their own territory. One was by Ca’Lil Valentine and one by Altmyer. Both came early in drives, giving the OSU offense opportunities to score. “It was just too many things that we gave them,” Bielema said. “You can’t spot them opportunities and expect to have success.”

The offense struggled to find a rhythm amid Ohio State’s suffocating defense. Despite outgaining the Buckeyes 295 to 272 yards overall, Illinois faltered when it counted most. Then the third-down conversions were a major hazard. The Buckeyes’ defense was relentless, forcing the Illini into difficult third-down scenarios and then shutting them down on 4 of 14 attempts. Even when Illinois managed to get close to scoring zones, the Buckeyes’ defense made crucial stops. On one drive, Altmyer threw an incomplete pass to Justin Bowick, and officials called OSU corner Devin Sanchez for pass interference. That flag set Illinois up with first-and-goal at the 1.

The woes don’t really stop at the offense, as the special teams also did their part. On a low snap during a punt attempt, Keelan Crimmins tried to pick up the ball but had his knee touch the ground while doing so. In football rules, the play ends once a player’s knee touches the ground. That resulted in a turnover on downs, giving Ohio State possession at the Illinois 38-yard line. OSU turned that into points with a 31-yard field goal by Jayden Fielding. But the main problem is that OSU scored 24 of its 34 points on drives that started inside the Illinois 40. The Buckeyes capitalized on Illinois’ mistakes quickly and efficiently without having to march the full length of the field.

The Jeremiah Smith health scare

Ohio State’s win against the Illini wasn’t all smooth. The concerning moment came when star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith went down after a scary play. It was a critical point late in the third quarter with Ohio State leading 27-10, when Smith took a handoff on a reverse just outside the red zone. Illinois defensive back Torrie Cox Jr. perfectly read the play and split the two blockers leading the way.

He tackled Smith as he landed on his head and neck. The stadium instantly fell into silence as Smith stayed down on the field in discomfort. Trainers rushed out to assess him, focusing on his lower back, which appeared to be the source of the issue. The urgency was due to Smith being a crucial piece in OSU’s offense. And why not? As of this season, Smith has caught 36 catches for 463 yards and scored 6 TDs.

Thus, losing a key offensive weapon like Smith would be a huge blow for Ohio State. Up to that point, he hauled in four receptions for 40 yards while also contributing on the ground with a three-yard carry. But then, after some tests and evaluation, Smith returned just three plays later. He then helped the Buckeyes punch in a 1-yard touchdown run, extending their lead. Afterward, he was even seen warming up on a stationary bike, hinting that the team was cautiously optimistic about his status.