Did You Know – November 13, 2013 – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/13/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 13, 2013
Battle for the Illibuck
This week’s game marks the 100th meeting between Ohio State and Illinois. The Buckeyes and Illini met on the gridiron for the first time in 1902 in a game that ended in a 0-0 tie. Only Ohio State’s series with Michigan (1897, 109 games) is older and lengthier than the Illinois series.
The Buckeyes lead the all-time series, 64-30-4 (the 2010 win was vacated) and ironically, have a better record against the Illini in Champaign (34-12) than they do in Columbus (38-18-4).
Between 1968 and 1982, OSU won 15 consecutive games vs. Illinois, the longest winning streak in the series by either team.
The game’s winner is awarded with the Illibuck, a wooden replica of a turtle. It’s a tradition that began with a live turtle in 1925 and is the second oldest trophy exchanged in the Big Ten. Only the Little Brown Jug trophy, played for by Minnesota and Michigan since 1909, is older.
