Ohio State, still trying to impress Playoff committee, blows out Illinois

COLUMBUS, Ohio — As expected, No. 8 Ohio State avoided a speedbump against lowly Illinois to cruise into next weekend’s crucial matchup against Michigan. Here are three takeaways from the Buckeyes’ 52-14 win:

1. The offense is rolling

Ohio State won this game before kickoff, if we’re being honest, but the opening drive was when it became official. The Buckeyes’ first series went 75 yards in about three minutes, capped by a short touchdown run from Mike Weber, and the rout was on. This was always going to get ugly for Illinois, for two reasons: one, the talent and experience gap was and is ridiculously wide; and two, the Buckeyes were playing to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee.

So the Illini never stood a chance. The OSU offense was on point, piling up 251 yards of offense and four touchdown drives in the first quarter. By halftime, the Buckeyes led 38-0 and had 358 yards of offense, 129 through the air and 229 on the ground. Meanwhile, the Illini went into the locker room with just one first down. This was a mismatch.

2. But what does it say about Ohio State?

There are Football Championship Subdivision teams that would beat Illinois by multiple scores, so extrapolating anything substantial from the lopsided win might be a lost cause — it’s not like facing off against Illinois really prepares Ohio State to play Michigan, for example. But the nature of the win does highlight a key idea: OSU is rolling at the right time.

It’s a little bit like 2014, though with slightly different circumstances. That team lost early, to Virginia Tech, and then rolled from there — cementing its place in the Playoff by destroying Wisconsin to win the Big Ten. This team, on the other hand, already has two losses. But there is a similarity to be found in how both teams hit another gear in November and December. Ohio State might not be able to overcome its two defeats, but the Buckeyes are doing their part to remain in the championship picture.

3. The Playoff picture

Wisconsin’s win against Michigan is good for Ohio State, though an argument can be made that the opposite result might have been better: Michigan would then be in the Playoff top 25 when the two meet a week from today, and the Badgers would still be 11-1 and hovering around the top 10 of the poll heading into the Big Ten championship game. But it’s still a good situation.

Beating Illinois won’t do anything for the Buckeyes, since the Illini are horrible. But with some help, OSU might be able to squeeze its way into another semifinal. First, the Buckeyes need to take care of business. That begins at Michigan, even if the Wolverines will be an underdog, and then continues against the Badgers (Ohio State has clinched a spot in the Big Ten title game opposite Wisconsin). There’s no making up for that loss to Iowa, but OSU can still play its way into a shot at the national title.