The world expected Ohio State to handle business Saturday.

The Buckeyes did just that — and then some.

Ohio State returned home and reclaimed the Illibuck Trophy with a convincing 42-19 victory over Illinois, improving to 4-0 on the season while continuing to build momentum toward the heart of its schedule.

And, once again, Jeremiah Smith was at the center of it all.

Another Saturday.

Another Herculean effort from Smith.

A week removed from becoming Ohio State's all-time leader in receiving yards, the junior wide receiver somehow found another level against the Illini, putting together the most statistically impressive game of his career.

Smith hauled in 12 receptions for 217 yards and four touchdowns, all career highs.

The performance also put Smith into some very exclusive company. He became the first Ohio State player to record at least 10 receptions, 200 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the same game.

At this point, the question is becoming less about what Smith can do and more about what defenses can possibly do to slow him down.

Illinois tried different looks throughout the afternoon, but when the Buckeyes needed a big play, Smith repeatedly delivered. His ability to stretch the field, win contested catches and create separation gives Ohio State a weapon that can change the complexion of a game in a matter of seconds.

For an offense still developing around a young quarterback, having a player like Smith is an invaluable luxury.

Sayin Shows Another Dimension

While Smith stole the headlines, Saturday also provided another important step in the development of quarterback Julian Sayin.

The biggest question surrounding Sayin entering the season wasn't whether he could operate the offense when everything was going according to plan.

Everyone already knew what he could do with a clean pocket.

The question was what would happen when defenses brought pressure.

Against Illinois, Sayin provided an encouraging answer.

The sophomore quarterback showed a willingness to stand in the pocket and deliver throws with pressure bearing down on him. When the pocket collapsed completely, he also showed the ability to tuck the ball and pick up yards with his legs rather than simply taking the sack.

Those plays may not appear on the stat sheet the same way a 50-yard touchdown does, but they could prove to be extremely important as the season progresses.

Defenses now have another element to account for.

If opponents blitz recklessly, Sayin has demonstrated that he can recognize the pressure, get the ball out or use his legs to punish them.

It won't always be pretty.

It doesn't have to be.

What matters is that Sayin continues to show he can remain composed when things aren't perfect.

That development could make Ohio State's offense considerably more difficult to defend when the games become more important.

The Running Game Remains a Work in Progress

For all of the positives, Ohio State still has some areas that need attention.

The Buckeyes have now gone three consecutive games without producing a run of more than 20 yards. Their last such play came in the season opener against Ball State.

That's not necessarily a problem that can be solved overnight, but it is an area Ohio State will need to improve as the schedule becomes more difficult.

After last week's victory over Kent State, head coach Ryan Day challenged his running backs to run with more physicality and decisiveness.

Ja'Kobi Jackson provided a glimpse of what Day is looking for.

The short-yardage back ran downhill with purpose and consistently attacked the line of scrimmage instead of hesitating in the backfield.

That physicality will be important.

Ohio State doesn't necessarily need to turn every rushing attempt into an explosive play. But the Buckeyes need to consistently create positive yardage, force defenses to respect the run and eventually capitalize when those defenses begin giving more attention to Smith and the passing game.

If Ohio State can develop that consistency, the offense could become much more balanced.

Illinois Finds Success on the Ground

The Buckeye defense also experienced some adversity Saturday.

Illinois finished with 199 rushing yards, including 113 from Aidan Laughery on only 11 carries. Three different Illini players broke off runs of more than 20 yards — more explosive rushing plays than Ohio State has produced all season.

That is an area the Buckeyes will undoubtedly want to clean up.

The young Ohio State secondary also faced a legitimate test.

Illinois quarterback Katin Houser completed 21 of 37 passes for 263 yards and a touchdown without throwing an interception. Hudson Clement and Collin Dixon each caught five passes, combining for 130 receiving yards.

For a defense that has undergone some personnel changes, those opportunities are valuable.

Young defensive backs are going to experience moments when they are tested. What matters now is how quickly they learn from them.

The Buckeyes did enough to keep Illinois from turning those opportunities into a genuine threat to the outcome.

Still, the standard in Columbus is higher than simply surviving.

Pettijohn Continues to Emerge

One of the brighter developments on the defensive side was the continued emergence of Riley Pettijohn.

Pettijohn recorded a sack and two tackles for loss, showing the type of disruptive ability Ohio State will need from its linebackers as the season progresses.

The Buckeyes finished with three sacks and five tackles for loss, numbers that don't necessarily jump off the page.

But the defense doesn't need to be perfect in September.

It needs to continue improving.

Ohio State has plenty of athleticism across the defensive front and in the secondary. The challenge now is turning that athleticism into consistent pressure and limiting the explosive plays that Illinois was able to generate.

That process will become even more important as the Buckeyes move deeper into conference play.

Plenty to Build On

That's ultimately what made Saturday's victory so encouraging.

Ohio State wasn't perfect.

The running game still has room to grow. The defense surrendered too many explosive plays. The pass rush wasn't consistently disruptive.

But the Buckeyes still won by 23 points.

And they did it while continuing to discover just how dangerous this team can become.

Smith looks like a player capable of taking over games every time he steps onto the field.

Sayin is showing signs of becoming more comfortable when defenses make life difficult.

The running backs have been challenged to become more physical.

Young defenders are getting valuable experience.

And players like Pettijohn are beginning to establish themselves as difference-makers.

There is still plenty of football left to play.

That's what should have Ohio State fans feeling optimistic.

The Buckeyes don't need to be a finished product in September. They need to keep improving — and Saturday provided plenty of evidence that this team is capable of doing exactly that.

The Illibuck is back in Columbus.

Jeremiah Smith is making history.

And as the season moves forward, Ohio State has something every team hopes to have at this point in the year: a high ceiling and plenty of room to get better.