COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's offensive line has been a strength, a welcome sign of growth from a unit that has been a concern for the past few seasons.
The Buckeyes are deep and talented up front, and new offensive line coach Tyler Bowen has them playing at a high level. The've given up just two sacks this season, fourth in the country, and lead the nation with just 10 tackles for loss allowed.
The run to the College Football Playoff last year was the turning point for this year's offensive line. Players like starting center Carson Hinzman, left guard Luke Montgomery and even backup guard/center Josh Padilla were asked to play multiple positions during the season due to injuries. It gave them experience and more reps in practice and forced them to learn on the fly. That adversity brought the offensive line, which still includes right guard Tegra Tshabola and left tackle Austin Siereveld too, closer together.
Ohio State also made some additions in the transfer portal. Rice transfer Ethan Onianwa was expected to be an immediate contributor, though he has fallen into a rotational role, while Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels has established himself as the right tackle. Daniels has made an impact beyond jumping to the top of the depth chart; his attitude rubs off on everybody. The Cincinnati native is a trash talker who loves to play with an attitude.
"When Phillip came, the notch definitely turned," Padilla said. "It was like, 'Oh yeah, this is the guy we need."
There's a feeling around Ohio State that this offensive line is different. Not only are they executing better because they're more experienced, but the energy is higher.
"We all have a little edge to us," Padilla said. "We all have something to prove."
That's led to success in the trenches as the top-ranked Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) have sorted out their run game and gotten quarterback Julian Sayin up to speed.
So as the pursuit of another national title continues, how will Ohio State's growth be tested at No. 17 Illinois (5-1, 2-1) at noon ET Saturday on Fox?
As talented as Texas' Arch Manning and Washington's Demond Williams Jr. are, Luke Altmyer offers a different threat to the Ohio State defense. He's not the athlete that Williams is -- he has negative rushing yards because of the Big Ten-leading 19 sacks Illinois has given up -- but he is experienced.
The fifth-year quarterback is one of the most experienced in the Big Ten and doesn't turn the ball over. He's thrown for 1,573 yards, has a 73.6 completion percentage and hasn't thrown an interception.
Altmyer and the Illinois passing attack have also been explosive. He's completed three passes of more than 60 yards and five over 50 yards and averages 10.6 yards per attempt, second in the FBS to USC's Jayden Maiava.
"Not only does he make great decisions, he gets the ball out quick, he's accurate and knows how they are attacking a defense," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "He can also move on his feet; he has good quickness."
Ohio State has made life difficult for quarterbacks this season. The Buckeyes have only two interceptions but are holding teams to just 124 passing yards per game and have given up one passing play over 40 yards. A big part of their success is getting teams into third-and-long scenarios. Last week, Minnesota faced 10 third downs of 8 yards or longer. Washington faced five third-and-long scenarios, as well.
Those are the "fun" downs, linebacker Payton Pierce said.
"You get to open up guys like Arvell (Reese), all these defensive ends we have, and Sonny (Styles), and we get to rush the quarterback," Pierce said.
Under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Ohio State has used those downs as an opportunity to get creative with the defensive fronts and in the secondary. Teams are converting just 20 percent of their third downs against the Buckeyes. In the three Power 4 games Ohio State has played, Texas, Washington and Minnesota are a combined 7-35 on third down.
That'll be key again. If Ohio State can slow down an Illinois rushing attack that is averaging only 130 yards and 3.7 yards per carry -- 14th in the Big Ten -- and not give up big plays, it can get Altmyer and the Illini in difficult third-down situations.
Jackson left the Minnesota game in the first quarter after pressuring quarterback Drake Lindsey, but his injury didn't seem to be serious as he stayed on the sidelines cheering on his teammates.
After Wednesday's practice, Day said that Jackson is "trending in the right direction" to play against the Illini.
The defensive end has tallied six tackles and one sack this season. Though he lacks the gaudy numbers of Caden Curry (who leads the team with 29 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and five sacks), Jackson’s impact has been obvious. He played just nine pass-rush snaps against Minnesota and got a quarterback pressure on one of them. He beats offensive tackles with ease, which moves quarterbacks off their throwing spot and into his teammates, who are also pass rushing.
If Jackson plays, it would be a massive boost for an Ohio State defensive line that has thrived off versatility and uses Jackson as both an edge rusher and interior lineman.
Ohio State will rotate up front regardless. The Buckeyes expect to use North Carolina transfer Beau Atkinson often, as well as reserves like Zion Grady and Logan George, who played higher snaps against Minnesota.
Ohio State is in the middle of a five-game stretch that is crucial to its Playoff chances. The Buckeyes took care of business with wins over Washington and Minnesota, but this game against Illinois is the last ranked game on the schedule until Ohio State goes to Michigan to end the regular season.
It's a game that has massive Playoff implications for the Illini, who already have one loss, and the Buckeyes, who are fighting for a Big Ten title and a first-round bye.
If Ohio State wins, the Buckeyes' Playoff chances are a virtual lock at 99 percent, up from 98 percent, according to The Athletic's Austin Mock. Illinois' Playoff chances would drop to 2 percent with a loss.
If Illinois wins, it jumps to a 15 percent chance, while the Buckeyes would fall to 93 percent.
This is a bad matchup for Illinois. The Illini have been good this year at creating explosive plays in the passing attack, but Ohio State's defense is its strength.
And on the other side, Illinois is giving up an average of 507 total yards to Big Ten opponents this season -- 579 in a blowout loss to Indiana, plus 490 and 453 in wins over USC and Purdue. Ohio State's offense is finally hitting its groove with freshman running back Bo Jackson and the downfield passing attack opening up with Sayin.
Illinois will get its share of stops, but the worst passing defense, statistically, in the Big Ten doesn't have the athletes to compete consistently if the Buckeyes let Sayin loose again.
Though Altmyer should make some plays, how the Illini deal with Ohio State's talented linebacker corps will be the concern. Can they use Patricia's creativity against him? To me, this feels like a game where all-purpose star Hank Beatty will have to make a difference both at receiver and in the punt return game. I don't think that will be enough.