COLUMBUS, Ohio — Curtis Samuel ran for two touchdowns and J.T. Barrett hit Devin Smith on two scoring passes — all in the first half — and No. 13 Ohio State beat Illinois 55-14 on Saturday night, extending the Buckeyes’ Big Ten win streak to a record-tying 20. The Buckeyes (7-1, 4-0, No. 16 CFP) won their sixth in a row — five by lopsided scores. Now they head into the game of the year in the conference, at defending champion Michigan State next week. Donovonn Young’s 5-yard run late in the third quarter broke up the shutout for the Illini (4-5, 1-4). They have dropped four of five. Barrett, nursing a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and wearing a brace, left at halftime with the Buckeyes up 31-0. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 167 yards. He gave way to Cardale Jones, who lofted a picture-perfect 27-yard TD pass to Dontre Wilson and also hit Michael Thomas on a 19-yard scoring pass. Jones was 5 of 9 for 82 yards passing. After their first possession of the second half, Illinois quarterbacks Reilly O’Toole and Aaron Bailey had combined for 58 yards passing — and 56 of them came on O’Toole’s completion to Mike Dudek. …
Continue Reading: No. 13 Ohio St rolls in 55-14 win over Illinois
