No. 2 Ohio State negotiated its 11-week tuneup with a few missteps and some less-than-stellar performances, but the Buckeyes remain unbeaten.
At last there are some big games for Ohio State to play.
Next week, No. 14 Michigan State visits Columbus, Ohio. The following week, Ohio State is at No. 15 Michigan.
The defending national champions registered yet another ho-hum victory on Saturday, beating Illinois 28-3 in J.T. Barrett's return from a suspension. The Buckeyes have rarely been threatened by mostly so-so opposition on their way to 10-0, but they have also rarely looked like the juggernaut many expected this season.