COLUMBUS (Interstat) — Julian Sayin, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound quarterback from Carlsbad, California, threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score, and Jeremiah Smith, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound receiver from Miami Gardens, Florida, caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns as Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19 in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at Ohio Stadium on Saturday. A crowd of 101,452 watched Ohio State improve to 3-1. Illinois fell to 2-2. Sayin completed 27 of 36 passes for 367 yards and carried seven times for 29 yards. Smith’s four scoring receptions powered an Ohio State offense that finished with 42 points. Illinois scored 19 points and stayed within striking distance early before the Buckeyes pulled away.

Katin Houser, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback from Anaheim, California, led Illinois by completing 21 of 37 passes for 263 yards and one touchdown. He also ran seven times for 14 yards. Ty Robinson, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound receiver from Aurora, Colorado, caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Hudson Clement, a 6-foot-1, 199-pound receiver from Martinsburg, West Virginia, had five receptions for 87 yards. Collin Dixon, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound receiver from Tallmadge, Ohio, caught five passes for 63 yards. Brayden Trimble added four catches for 28 yards. Christian Abney, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound tight end from Zionsville, Indiana, had one reception for 6 yards. Jershaun Newton ran once for 1 yard, and Javari Barnett carried twice for 4 yards. The Fighting Illini moved the ball through the air but could not keep pace with Ohio State’s scoring.

Illinois opened the scoring in the first quarter when Jordan Anderson ran right for 22 yards and a touchdown with 1:04 remaining. Ethan Moczulski made the extra point. Moczulski later kicked a 43-yard field goal with 1:32 remaining in the second quarter and a 44-yard field goal with 9:35 remaining in the third quarter. Houser connected with Robinson for another Illinois touchdown. Those scores accounted for Illinois’ 19 points.

Ohio State answered with a balanced attack led by Sayin and Smith. Sayin found Smith for a 9-yard touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the second quarter, a play that was reviewed and upheld. Sayin also scored on a 7-yard run with 15 seconds left in the second quarter. Ja’Kobi Jackson added a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. Sayin’s four passing touchdowns and one rushing score kept the Buckeyes in control. Smith’s 12-catch, 217-yard day included four touchdown receptions.

Brock Boyd had one catch for 22 yards. Riley Pettijohn, a 6-foot-2, 231-pound linebacker from McKinney, Texas, made three tackles and one sack. Christian Alliegro, a 6-foot-4, 228-pound linebacker from Darien, Connecticut, had six tackles. Payton Pierce had six tackles and half a sack. Earl Little Jr., a 6-foot-1, 186-pound defensive back from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, had six tackles. Jermaine Mathews Jr., a 5-foot-11, 182-pound cornerback from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Devin Sanchez, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound cornerback from Houston, Texas, each had seven tackles. Jaylen McClain, a 6-foot, 192-pound safety from Rahway, New Jersey, led Ohio State with eight tackles. Hunter Welcing, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end from Deer Park, Illinois, caught one pass for 4 yards. Chris Henry Jr. had one reception for 15 yards. John Walker, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound tackle from Kissimmee, Florida, made three tackles. Phillip Bell, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver from Mission Viejo, California, caught one pass for 23 yards. Devin McCuin, a 6-foot, 185-pound receiver from Jacksonville, Texas, caught four passes for 34 yards and returned one kickoff 20 yards. Nate Roberts, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Washington, Oklahoma, had four receptions for 36 yards. Smith caught 12 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. Isaiah West, a 5-foot-10, 210-pound running back from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ran twice for 15 yards. Cam Calhoun, a 6-foot, 177-pound cornerback from Cincinnati, Ohio, made one tackle. Joe McGuire, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound punter from Melbourne, Victoria, punted twice for 87 yards. Connor Hawkins handled kicking duties for the Buckeyes. Khary Wilder, a 6-foot-4, 257-pound defensive end from Gardena, California, had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Eddrick Houston, James Smith, Jay Timmons, Jordan Thomas and Brenten Jones each made one tackle. Jackson ran 10 times for 56 yards and a touchdown. Will Smith Jr. and Jason Moore each made one tackle. Qua Russaw, a 6-foot-2, 251-pound linebacker from Montgomery, Alabama, made two tackles. Beau Atkinson, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive lineman from Raleigh, North Carolina, had two tackles and half a sack. Simeon Caldwell made two tackles. Kenyatta Jackson Jr., a 6-foot-5, 239-pound defensive end from Hollywood, Florida, had two tackles and one sack. Leroy Roker III, a 6-foot-1, 197-pound safety from Fort Myers, Florida, and Tarvos Alford, a 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker from Port Saint Lucie, Florida, each made three tackles.

Illinois’ defense was led by Matthew Bailey, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound defensive back from Moline, Illinois, who made 14 tackles. Mac Resetich, a 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back from Spring Valley, Illinois, and Juice Clarke, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound defensive back from Fort Myers, Florida, each had seven tackles. Xavier Scott, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back from Riviera Beach, Florida, added six tackles. Tywan Cox, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back from Miami, Florida, made four tackles. Ismael Kante, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, made four tackles. The Fighting Illini also received contributions from their secondary and linebackers, but Ohio State’s passing game consistently found room.

Ohio State’s win followed a 59-3 victory over Kent State, a 24-23 loss at Texas and a 56-3 win over Ball State. Illinois entered after a 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, a 31-27 loss to Duke and a 42-23 win over UAB. The Buckeyes next play at Iowa, while Illinois hosts Purdue next Saturday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected Ohio State 38, Illinois 15. Interstat’s ELO system gave Ohio State a 97.9 percent probability to win. Illinois had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +26.5. The over/under line was 54.5.