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Ohio State Beats Illinois 42-19 — Sep 24, 2026Ohio State opens Big Ten play against Illinois as a heavy favorite, but the Fighting Illini pose a threat in receiver Collin Dixon, who leads the nation with seven touchdown catches in three games. The Buckeyes will look to keep the Illibuck Trophy in Columbus and contain Dixon as conference play begins.

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Illinois Rout Southern Illinois 48-10 — Sep 19, 2026Illinois beat Southern Illinois 48-10 as Matthew Bailey returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown and Collin Dixon caught two scoring passes.

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Nicole Hardy The defense kept Southern Illinois in check all game, which should help build confidence before Ohio State.

Duke Rallies Past Illinois 31-27 — Sep 12, 2026Duke rallied from an early deficit to beat Illinois 31-27 on the road, powered by Nate Sheppard’s 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Walker Eget delivered a more efficient, turnover-free performance. Illinois’ Collin Dixon and Katin Houser kept the Illini competitive in the first half, but Duke’s defense stiffened in the second half and made crucial stops to seal the win, even as Eget left briefly with an injury before returning.

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Priya Raman Sheppard’s three touchdowns made all the difference after that slow start. Illinois looked strong early but the Duke defense stepped up when it mattered.