CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Derek Combs could be the difference.

OSU at ILLINOIS

• Kickoff: 4:10p.m. today, Memorial Stadium (70,904), Champaign, Ill.   • Records: Ohio State 7-2 (4-2 Big Ten), Illinois 5-4 (2-4).   • TV: ESPN.   • Radio: WBOB-AM (1160).   • Line: OSU by 71/2.

        If No.13 Ohio State (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten) is to attain its goal of a major bowl berth, Combs has to grind up yards and clock here today, and the Buckeyes must beat Illinois, as well as Michigan in their annual finale.

        If Illinois (5-4, 2-4) is to revive its dying bowl hopes, the league's worst run defense must tackle runners — starting with OSU's senior tailback.

        A quick review of last week's film shows why. Combs rushed for a career-best 153 yards against Michigan State, which fields the best run defense in the Big Ten.

        Meanwhile, Indiana rushed for nearly 500 yards against the Illini. Quick-footed Antwaan Randle El, whom nobody seems able to stop, was not the only reason the Hoosiers ran wherever and whenever they wanted.

        “We're not going to run Indiana's offense,” OSU coach John Cooper said. “Are we going to try to run the ball? Obviously, we're going to try to run the ball.”

        Combs has run for 743 yards through nine games and could pad that total against an Illini defense that has allowed more than 2,000 yards on the ground so far this season.

        Cooper will use Combs to challenge an Illini defensive front reeling from injuries.

        “We talk about winning the surest way,” Cooper said. “The surest way to win a football game is to possess the ball. Keep it away from the other team, don't turn it over.”

        The Buckeyes did not do that last year against Illinois. The Illini won 46-20 on three Buckeyes' turnovers, including a fumbled kickoff that set up a momentum-swinging touchdown with nine seconds left in the first half.

        It was the Buckeyes' worst loss in Columbus in 50 years, one more painful moment in a 6-6 season that was not well received among Ohio State fans.

        “Nothing went our way that day,” linebacker Joe Cooper said. “It was very embarrassing.”

        Players on both sides say they aren't talking about the game's bowl implications, but they are plentiful. The Buckeyes are already bowl eligible, but winning their final two games could mean a Big Ten title and shot at a prestigious bowl.

        The Illini need two wins to match last year's 7-4 mark, but they need to win one of the next two games to be eligible for a bowl invitation. After Ohio State, however, they go on the road to play No.12 Northwestern.

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