Posted on 11/10/2007 3:52:23 PM PST by Libloather
Williams leads Illini to upset of No. 1 Ohio State
By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer
November 10, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- In this season of upsets, top-ranked Ohio State was the latest to fall.
Juice Williams provided the big plays on the ground and through the air, spurring Illinois to a stunning 28-21 victory on Saturday night and throwing open the national title race.
It was the first time Illinois (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) had ever beaten a No. 1, losing all 17 previous games. The defeat also ended a record streak of 20 Big Ten wins in a row by Ohio State (10-1, 6-1).
Williams, criticized all year because of his errant passing, tossed four touchdown passes. Rashard Mendenhall set an Illinois season record while rushing for 88 yards on 26 carries.
The Illini rushed for 260 yards against an Ohio State defense that came in allowing just 65 yards on the ground per game.
Although the defeat crippled Ohio State's dreams of a national championship, it merely knocked them into a tie for the top spot in the Big Ten because of Michigan's earlier loss to Wisconsin.
Not since Nov. 14, 1959, had Michigan and Ohio State both lost the week before their annual year-end grudge match, which once again this season will decide the champion.
But this was not the way either team wanted to come into the game.
#13 Michigan 21 Wisconsin 37
Wake Forest 10 #20 Clemson 44
Arkansas 13 #22 Tennessee 34
Texas A&M 26 #7 Missouri 40
#21 Alabama 12 Miss St 17
#24 Kentucky 27 Vanderbilt 20
#19 Boise St 52 Utah St 0
Texas Tech 20 #15 Texas 38
Florida St 21 #11 VA Tech 20
#16 Connecticut 3 Cincinnati 27
#18 Auburn 20 #10 Georgia 31
#9 Arizona St 24 UCLA 20
Perhaps we can draw the two teams in the national championship game out of a hat.
Big rumble after the game.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
I’m a student at Ohio State! We were doing so well, and if anyone were to beat us I would’ve guessed Wisconsin.
Michigan is next week. Actually I wouldn’t be surprised if they won. I’m not a native Ohioan, I’m allowed to not hate Michigan ;-)
Wow what happened? So I guess it will be a Hawaii-Kansas for the National Championship?
If I could change my FReeper name, it would be OhioStateloather...
The QB, Juice Williams, can run. The Buckheads weren't ready for that...
Ohio State had been overachieving.
Hahaha...I’m guessing you’re a Michigander? Well fear not, Michigan was originally my #1 choice, but the out of state tuition was ridiculously high, so I decided against it...with some help from my parents...
OSU would have been my #1 choice if I had stayed in Ohio.
The news has just broke in the dorms....
A group of kids just came running up the stairs yelling “NOOOO!” and making a ruckus. I’ve been wondering what would happen when we lost. It can get a bit over the top around here during football season, or so I hear from upperclassmen, so maybe it’s good to bring it down a notch...
Ineffectively. (Ya see, I'm a HUGE playoffs fan...)
No, nobody does.
I’d say Juice is one of those erratic guys who can have a fabulous day on occasion.
He may throw 6 interceptions next week, but today he ruled.
OSU should have challenged the first TD Illinois made.
Sign me,
Hapless Bears Fan
I enjoyed the fake hand-offs. Juice would then TAKE OFF with no Buckheads in sight. Very enjoyable game...
I am too. Why not just have the major Bowl games BE the playoffs? The money would still be there.
This should make Wake Forest number 1 in the country....
Call 911.
My dad grew up in Illinois and went to the U of I. He was watching this game intently today. He is going to be very happy....meanwhile, the OSU campus goes nuts (buckeye pun intended)
Hey U of I—at least WE don’t have a mosque on campus!
Illinois exposed OSU today. I guess those games against Kent, Akron and Youngstown St. didn’t prepare the Buckeyes very well.
Ouch!!
They were clearly not the number one team in the country. Fortunately for the BCS, they will not embarass themselves again in the championship game now....
touche
I missed the first half. I maybe wrong but, OSU was ahead - at home - by 14 - before Illinois scored? The Buckheads may have thought the victory was in the bag...
ML/NJ
Notre Dame (1 - 9) got destroyed by Air Firce today, 41 - 24. Air Force! It was Notre Dame’s sixth straight home loss (a school record) and the first time the school ever lost nine games in a season.
ML/NJ
LOL...yes, next weekend is gonna be hectic. Being a non-native Ohioan, I won’t be as pissed as the rest of campus if Michigan wins. After all, they were originally my top choice, but thanks to extremely high out of state tuition I turned that down. I guess we can add Illinois to the list of schools we don’t like, along with Michigan and Florida.
(Yes, I know they don't exist anymore).
/signed
Michigan alumnus
Hold on to your shorts - and find something with picture-in-picture - FAST...
#17 Florida vs South Carolina
LA Tech vs #2 LSU
#5 Kansas vs Okla St
#12 USC vs #24 California
#8 Boston College vs Maryland
Fresno St vs #14 Hawaii
Congratulations ZOOK, Hell of a job.
There are some dorms (two towers) that overlook the football stadium. I stayed in one for orientation. The view out my window looked right onto the field. At convocation we got to walk across the field. I do imagine it’s pretty quiet right now...the entire state is probably in a deep blue (Michigan pun?) funk.
Whoo hoo! Christmas comes early for me!
No fireworks tonight. Time to study - eh?
No. Ohio State scored within the first few seconds. Then Illinois made it down to the 3-yard line but the ball popped out and OSU recovered it in the end zone. The replays clearly showed that Illinois fumbled the ball, but the call at the time allowed the Illini to maintain their possession. They quickly ran their next play and scored, making it 7-7. Regardless, the Illini played a great game and I say that as an Ohio resident and Buckeye fan.
The Bullies beat Bama!! MSU is now bowl eligible!!
Go, Dawgs!! Way ta go Coach Croom!!
Real men of genius "delusional Notre Dame fan"
I’m a Big Ten fan all the way. Todays game was great for Illinois and for the Big Ten. Next week will be as well. Go Blue!
This season has been unfrickingbelieveable. I was just talking to my mom earlier in the evening (we’re from KY, where admittedly until just a few years ago we really haven’t had much to talk about when it comes to college football). I told her about this game and she said ‘Wow, another #1 defeated? That seems to be going around a lot lately’ in the same tone of voice one would address a stomach bug going around a neighborhood.
I'm hoping for Oregon - LSU. They both have already stumbled this season.
It’s been a very entertaining season to follow.
Go Ducks!
UVa 31 - Mia 0 Halftime!
ML/NJ
The Hugh Hewitt curse strikes again. He knows nothing about sports but keeps blabbing about it. And he’s not much better about Romney.
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