Daily Buckeye Blitz: Ohio State vs Illinois 2026 Preview: Can Bret Bielema Actually Threaten the Buckeyes?

Ohio State opens Big Ten play against Illinois on Sept. 26, and this matchup may be more interesting than Buckeye fans realize. Illinois has won 19 games over the last two seasons, Bret Bielema has built a solid Big Ten program, and the Illini added transfer quarterback Katin Houser after his breakout season at East Carolina. But is that enough to seriously challenge Ohio State in the Shoe? In this episode of The Daily Buckeye Blitz, we break down Ohio State vs Illinois, including Katin Houser, Illinois' new-look 3-3-5 defense, Bret Bielema's track record against Ohio State, and why the Buckeyes should still control this game. Tuesday, June 2, 2026   Join Kalshi and Get $10 Subscribe to the Podcast 📺 Watch On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/thebuckeyecast LIKE 👍 and SUBSCRIBE to the YouTube channel  https://www.youtube.com/@TheBuckeyeCast?sub_confirmation=1 ⭐️ Get Your Buckeye Gear ON SALE NOW!!! VISIT TheBuckeyeCast.com https://thebuckeyecast.com/ Questions or Comments? Call or text at 614-414-2274 Email at [email protected]    ⭐️ Find Us Here https://linktr.ee/thebuckeyecast