Sit back and imagine a time when the Ohio State Buckeyes did not dominate the Big Ten in football. Believe it or not, it happened… and while, you are in that alternate universe, imagine Illinois being nationally-ranked in the Top-25 poll. Illinois just recently made a Bowl Game for the first time since 2014 but, nine years ago on October 15, 2011, the Fighting Illini were home favorites against a Buckeye team dealing with NCAA sanctions and future head coaching uncertainty as interim taskmaster Luke Fickell assumed the reins. Fickell, now coaching a top-10 ranked Cincinnati Bearcats program, entered Memorial Stadium with Ohio State holding a 3-3 overall record and standing 0-2 in Big Ten play. The undefeated Illini, led by Ron Zook, were unblemished on the season and held a No. 16 national ranking. OSU was just looking to bounce back from a pair of narrow losses to Michigan…
Continue Reading: ON THIS DAY: Boom Herron Returns, Unranked Ohio State Beats No. 16 Illinois
