Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith looks to have played a part in a Big Ten coaching change taking place
Illinois has made a coaching change following its Week 4 loss to Ohio state.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are 3-1 on the season after dismantling Illinois 42-19 in Week 4 to open Big Ten play. The Ohio State offense put together a strong performance, piling up 518 total yards while quarterback Julian Sayin wasn’t sacked a single time. The fallout from the loss has already hit Champaign, with the Fighting Illini making a major change after the game.
Illinois parts ways with defensive coordinator after Ohio State game
According to Chris Vannini, Illinois and defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck mutually agreed to part ways on Sunday following the loss to Ohio State. Hauck was in his first year with Illinois after retiring as the head coach at Montana following eight seasons there.
Illinois has the No. 111 defense in college football, allowing 391 yards per game and 26.5 points per game, which ranked 100th nationally. The unit was underperforming from the start of the season, and the Buckeyes’ offensive explosion made the situation impossible to ignore. It made a change to happen, even if the move is being categorized as a mutual parting.
It’s rare to see a coaching change just four games into a season, but that’s how dominant Ohio State’s offensive showing was on Saturday.
Buckeyes star Jeremiah Smith put together the kind of performance that can end a coaching tenure. Smith hauled in 12 catches for 217 receiving yards and four touchdowns, turning the game into a showcase that embarrassed the Fighting Illini defense.
Ohio State’s offense scored six touchdowns overall. Sayin was responsible for five of them, with four through the air and one on the ground. He added 29 rushing yards to go along with his passing day.
The offense could not have played a more different game than the defense on Saturday. While the Buckeyes lit up the scoreboard, the defensive side of the ball had a tough day against Illinois. Ohio State’s defense is going to need to come around to the same level as the offense if the Buckeyes want to reach their biggest goals in 2026.
The Buckeyes opened conference play with a solid win, and the offense looks like it will all but be what carries this team. Still, the coming weeks will tell whether the defense can match that standard as Big Ten play rolls on.
