Check out our photo gallery from Saturday's game here
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The Illinois offense struggled for the second time in three games. Illinois quarterback Juice Williams said "it's time to go back to the basics."

"We've got to get the running game going. We've got to get the passing game going. We've got to put up points."

Williams is running out of time in his Illinois career.

"We've got to jump-start this program," Williams said. "Like, immediately. Time is ticking. We've got to find an answer."

He still remains short of the school's career total offense record, needing 76 yards. National and Big Ten awards are unlikely within his grasp.

Williams has a new offensive coordinator, with Mike Schultz replacing Mike Locksley. The offense is basically the same, Williams said.

"There are some differences here and there," Williams said. "Regardless of the plays, we've got to make them work."

Penalties and turnovers have been a problem, the senior said. The team worked on its deficiencies during its week off.

"The game plans are working," Williams said. "All practice, we have success."

Williams missed most of the Illinois State game with a leg injury. He said he felt fine during Saturday's game and "almost forgot" he had been injured.

Eddie McGee came in for Williams late Saturday, completing 2 of 4 passes for 11 yards with an interception.

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Two weeks after catching no passes for the first time in his career, Arrelious Benn led the Illini with four catches for 33 yards.

"It feels good to be back in the swing of things," Benn said. "I'm just ready to keep going throughout the season. I know the Big Ten is physical."

Benn said he isn't worried about Williams.

"No doubts," Benn said. "We're all thinking positive."

Benn doesn't have an explanation for an offense that was held under 10 points for the second time in three games.

"It really is frustrating," Benn said. "We didn't even put up a field goal. We know what we're capable of doing. That's the bright side of it."

Benn could have had a touchdown late in the first half. He was open in the end zone on a 45-yard pass, but Ohio State's Chimdi Chekwa was called for interference.

"I thought I was going to score," Benn said. "I got on Juice a little bit. I had him beat, but he hung it in the air too much and gave (Chekwa) a chance to catch up."

Benn would have liked more than 15 yards for the penalty.

"I went to the sideline and asked, 'Why didn't we get up to the goal line?' " Benn said. "I think it's like that in the NFL."

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Centennial product Mikel Leshoure returned to the field after missing the Illinois State game because of a suspension. He led the Illini with 25 rushing yards and had a catch for another 7.

"It's good to be back out there, doing anything to help my team," Leshoure said. "Everything's good with my situation. I'm ready to rock and roll."

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The Illini played without linebacker Martez Wilson, who will miss the rest of the season because of a neck injury.

"He's probably our best, most athletic kid," Illinois co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch said. "Any time you lose a kid like that, it's going to have an effect. But you can't make excuses. Everybody's got injuries. Everybody's got a tough schedule."

Ohio State finished with 236 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. The Buckeyes broke their share of tackles.

"That ain't good," Disch said. "We've got to tackle. They're big and strong, and we've got to get them down."

Quarterback Terrelle Pryor ran for 59 yards.

"Give him credit," Disch said, "he's a big, strong dude. We talked about that all week. You've got to get him on the ground."

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Defensive end Clay Nurse had one of the plays of the day for the Illini midway through the first quarter. On third and 2, Pryor broke away from a tackle attempt by Doug Pilcher and raced toward an opening. But Nurse swung his arm at Pryor's legs and stopped him for a 9-yard loss.

Later in the game, Nurse was called for a facemask penalty that helped the Buckeyes on their first touchdown drive.

"You feel deflated, but as John Wright says, 'You have to come back to neutral,' " Nurse said. "As soon as it happened, the coaches took me out and gave me a chance to come off the field and regain my composure."

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Illinois kick returner A.J. Jenkins helped the Buckeyes on Saturday. Despite Benn telling him to stay in the end zone after a first-half kickoff, Jenkins took off. He was stopped at the 10, putting the Illinois offense in bad field position.

"That's a communication issue," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "Those are things you can't have."

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First-time starting linebacker Evan Frierson finished with five tackles.

"Obviously, he was very, very nervous and excited in the beginning," Zook said. "I think he got better as the game went on."

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The Ohio State players were complimentary of the Illini, even after embarrassing the visitors from Illinois on Saturday in the Horseshoe. Linebacker Austin Spitler repeatedly remarked at how much talent the Illini possess, particularly on offense, and how they figured to be in a battle. So what happened out there?

"We knew they had so many receivers and running backs and they want to get us out in space," Spitler said. "But to hold them to zero points is definitely a good thing for us. We didn't necessarily expect that. Going into each game, our goal is to hold a team, to not let them score. So I guess we reached our goal in that sense."

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They tried to downplay it leading up to the game, but the fact that Illinois beat the Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in 2007 burned those guys up.

"We looked at it all week," Spitler said. "Every team meeting, the picture was up there of them jumping on our block 'O' and we never forgot that."

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Ohio State didn't have any passing yards in the first half, having missed on the only two attempts. That was part of the game plan, Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel said, knowing the conditions were expected to be horrible.

"Well, we wanted to lead with the run and mix in the pass had it been a beautiful day. We wanted to be very balanced, but that didn't make sense with the circumstances," Tressel said. "It was hard to throw the ball, but I think it was harder to catch it. That ball, you kept seeing it squirt through their hands, our hands.

"There for a moment, when everyone's jerseys were soaked, there's no way to get the ball dry, so it just made sense (to run the ball)."

Bob Asmussen and Marcus Jackson