ILLINOIS

If coach Ron Zook had his way, Illinois would be taking Saturday off rather than playing Ohio. “I’m not opposed to the 12th game, but I still think it’s important they have an open date just for the welfare of the student-athletes,” he said. “It makes no difference to me if we open the season a week earlier or play a week later.” . . . Both the Illini (2-4, 1-2) and their Mid-American Conference opponent played at Rutgers in September. Illinois lost to the Scarlet Knights 33-0 and the following week Ohio was defeated 24-7. “They played Missouri tough (in the first half of a 31-6 loss) and they did a better job at Rutgers than we did,” Zook said of the Bobcats (3-3, 2-1).