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Ohio State tries to avoid looking past Illinois

Nov 10, 2007 - 11:30 AM Illinois (7-3) at No. 1 Ohio St (10-0) 3:30 pm EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Ohio State Jim Tressel knows what's looming next week. He also knows not to look ahead.

One week before visiting arch-rival Michigan for a spot in a second straight national championship game, Tressel's top-ranked Buckeyes host Big Ten Conference foe Illinois on Saturday.

Last weekend, the Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) downed visiting Wisconsin, 38-17, for their Big Ten-record 20th straight conference win.

Chris "Beanie" Wells ran for 169 yards and three second-half touchdowns for Ohio State, which trailed, 17-10, in the third quarter before scoring 28 unanswered points.

Ohio State was not expected to contend for the national title this year after the departures of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith and star receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez.

But the Buckeyes are two wins away from another spot in the title game. Regardless of what happens against the Fighting Illini, the Buckeyes would win the Big Ten with a victory in Ann Arbor next week.

Illinois (7-3, 4-2) has won back-to-back games after losing consecutive contests to Iowa and Michigan.

Last Saturday, the Fighting Illini posted a 44-17 triumph at lowly Minnesota behind three touchdowns from quarterback Juice Williams - two through the air - and 201 rushing yards and two TDs from Rashard Mendenhall.

Tressel lost to Illinois in 2001, his first year coaching the Buckeyes, but has won the past three meetings.

Ohio State downed Illinois in Champaign last year, 17-10, after routing the Illini here in 2005, 40-2.