The stage is set for a high-stakes Big Ten clash on Saturday, as the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0) square off against the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1) in FOX's Big Noon Kickoff showcase.
The Buckeyes continue to reign supreme atop the AP Top 25—a spot they snatched from Texas back in early September after toppling the Longhorns. Since then, Ohio State has cruised past a string of unranked foes, winning each of their last four outings by no fewer than 18 points. They've handled business in conference play too, opening their Big Ten campaign with a gritty road win over Washington before steamrolling Minnesota in Columbus.
As for Illinois, the rollercoaster season rolls on. The Illini were flying high at No. 9 in the rankings before disaster struck in Bloomington, where they were obliterated 63-10 by Indiana—a result that sent shockwaves through Champaign. But credit where it’s due: Bret Bielema's squad showed real grit, responding with an emphatic bounce-back win over No. 21 USC before following it up with a hard-fought triumph on the road at Purdue.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch the Illinois vs Ohio State NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Illinois vs Ohio State: Date and kick-off time
The Fighting Illini will take on the Buckeyes in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET or 9:00 am PT at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL.
| Date | Saturday, October 11, 2025 |
| Kick-off Time | 12:00 pm ET or 9:00 am PT |
| Venue | Memorial Stadium |
| Location | Champaign, IL |
How to watch Illinois vs Ohio State on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: FOX
- Streaming service: Fubo
Streaming the game with a VPN
Unable to watch this game due to broadcast restrictions? A VPN could be the answer to your problems.
You can watch the game from wherever you are in the world by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as Express VPN. A VPN will allow you to create a secure connection online when you are abroad on holiday or for work, and you want to stream the game live. You can eventry ExpressVPN risk-freewith a 30-day money-back guarantee.
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Illinois vs Ohio State team news & key players
Illinois Fighting Illini team news
In Illinois' victory over Purdue, Luke Altmyer put on an absolute clinic. The senior quarterback was laser-sharp, shredding the Boilermakers for 390 yards on a near-perfect 19-of-22 passing performance.
Standing at 6ft 2in, Altmyer has been the steady hand for Illinois since transferring from Ole Miss, and he's taken his game up another notch this year. Through five games, he’s racked up 1,573 yards, completing 73.6% of his passes with a pristine 12-0 TD-to-INT line. After a stumble against Indiana, he's caught fire, throwing for 328 yards in the upset over USC and following it up with that monster showing against Purdue. While not much of a scrambler, he leans on sophomore back Ca’Lil Valentine, who’s been reliable with 323 yards and three touchdowns so far.
The passing game, though, has been powered by senior wideout Hank Beatty, who’s in the midst of a career year. The 5'11 veteran has already piled up 569 yards and two scores, including a jaw-dropping 186-yard performance against Purdue. Defensively, Illinois has been no slouch either, tallying 15 sacks and a pair of interceptions, with linebacker Gabe Jacas leading the charge off the edge with four sacks.
Ohio State Buckeyes team news
In the showdown against Minnesota, Julian Sayin looked every bit like a future superstar, torching the defense for 326 yards through the air and tossing three touchdowns without a single mistake.
After barely seeing the field last year with just 12 pass attempts as a freshman, Sayin has grabbed the reins of the offense and never looked back. Over five games this season, he's piled up 1,313 passing yards while completing a jaw-dropping 80.2% of his throws, boasting a 13-1 TD-to-INT ratio. The kid's accuracy borders on surgical. He's eclipsed the 300-yard mark in three of his five starts, showing off a polished pocket presence, though he's no threat on the ground, with just seven rushing yards to his name. Carrying the load in the run game is freshman Bo Jackson, who's churned out 360 yards and two scores, including a 63-yard, one-touchdown outing in the Minnesota win.
At receiver, Jeremiah Smith is simply on another level, the kind of talent that screams "future NFL Sunday highlight reel." The 6ft 3in phenom already has 35 receptions for 463 yards and six touchdowns, forming a lethal duo with fellow big-bodied target Carnell Tate, who’s chipped in 435 yards and four scores of his own. On defense, this squad knows how to get after the quarterback, racking up 14 sacks and two picks, led by edge menace Caden Curry with five sacks.