No.17 Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema confronted officials on the sideline during Saturday’s game against top-ranked Ohio State. The Fighting Illini trail 27-10 with the third quarter still ongoing at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
What Happened on the Controversial No-Call?
According to a post on X by Glenn Kinley, Bielema was in disbelief after no flag was thrown for pass interference on a target to Collin Dixon early in the third quarter. The video footage showed Bielema’s reaction as he “RAN down the sideline to ask the official about it.”
The controversial moment occurred as Illinois attempted to mount a comeback after falling behind 20-3 at halftime.
“How? How? How do you not call that?”
Bret Bielema was in disbelief after no flag was thrown for PI on the target to Collin Dixon early in the third quarter.
He RAN down the sideline to ask the official about it. (Slo-mo of the play at the end here)
Not the first time today… pic.twitter.com/xEtRnFX9tf
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) October 11, 2025
The Illini did manage to score on that third-quarter drive despite the no-call. Running back Aidan Laughery rushed for a one-yard touchdown at the 10:06 mark, cutting Ohio State’s lead to 20-10. However, the Buckeyes responded quickly with their own touchdown drive to push the advantage back to 27-10.
How Did Ohio State Dominate the First Half?
Ohio State’s offensive efficiency showed up early and often. The Buckeyes built a 10-0 first-quarter lead with a Caleb Donaldson one-yard touchdown rush and a 26-yard field goal from Jayden Fielding. They extended that advantage to 20-0 by halftime with another Fielding field goal from 31 yards and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Julian Sayin to Bo Jackson.
Illinois finally got on the board with a 24-yard David Olano field goal late in the second quarter, making it 20-3 at the break. The stat sheet reflected Ohio State’s control. Sayin had completed 16 of 22 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown through three quarters. Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer struggled a little, going 17 of 28 for 134 yards and an interception.
READ MORE: Calls Mount Against NCAA Referees as Jeremiah Smith ‘Mugged’ by Terrible Call vs. Illinois
The ground game told a similar story. Ohio State’s Jackson carried 10 times for 47 yards, while Illinois’s rushing attack produced minimal production. Laughery had five carries for 42 yards and a touchdown, but the Illini couldn’t establish consistency.
Before kickoff, the matchup appeared lopsided on paper. According to PFSN’s playoff meter, Ohio State had a 65.66% chance of making the conference championship game compared to Illinois’ 10.17%.
The offensive grades supported that. The Buckeyes earned an A- with a 90.3 offense impact rating, ranking fifth nationally. Illinois posted a B grade at 83.4, ranking 22nd.
Defensively, the gap widened even more. Ohio State’s 96.4 post on X by Glenn Kinley earned an A grade and second-place national ranking. Illinois managed just a C grade at 74.3, placing them 83rd nationally. Those numbers have played out across three quarters as the Buckeyes control both sides of the ball.
The controversial call added another layer of frustration for Bielema and his squad. Whether Illinois can mount a fourth-quarter comeback remains to be seen, but the deficit and statistical disadvantages make that path difficult.