COLUMBUS, Ohio - There was no trickery. There were no excuses.

There was no one saying the Ohio State Buckeyes were caught looking ahead to Michigan.

What there was Saturday in Ohio Stadium was a University of Illinois football team that grew from an enthusiastic teenager into a man, and the whole world got to see the epic transformation.

No one player grew up more than Illini quarterback Juice Williams, who stepped onto one of college football's biggest stages and played with a precision and determination beyond what he'd ever been able to show. As a result, Illinois' 28-21 victory over No. 1-ranked Ohio State was sure to steal headlines across the nation, trumpeting the arrival of a team that served notice it is now genuinely among the better and more dangerous squads in America.

Asked if he expected Illinois' victory to be the lead story on ESPN SportsCenter, linebacker J Leman laughed. "Yeah, unless Wilt Chamberlain's record of 100 points gets broken," said Leman, who played sideline to sideline and recorded a dozen tackles. "Like 101 points from Kobe Bryant, which could happen, knowing him."

Even Kobe couldn't steal Illinois' thunder Saturday on a day when it not only overcame the nation's No. 1-ranked team. Illinois won on a day when it lost its top cornerback, top receiver and starting fullback. It won by making no turnovers, intercepting three passes and committing just one penalty.

Most of all, it won because Williams wouldn't let Illinois lose.

It was a breakthrough game for Williams, whose tendencies to press in close games had even his own coaches searching for ways to settle him down. They'd tried inserting backup quarterback Eddie McGee, hoping Williams would learn by watching. They'd tailored the play-calling to his strengths, or perhaps away from his weaknesses, which limited Illinois in the downfield passing game. And they'd patiently waited for signs that he was catching on.

Lately, those signs have been coming.

Williams said a turning point came after losing to Iowa 10-6 on Oct. 13, the team's worst loss of the season.

"Playing the quarterback position is all about confidence and eliminating the negativity," Williams said after he completed 12 of 22 passes for 140 yards and four touchdowns. "I had a knack of being hard on myself, and when things went wrong, I would panic. It comes with experience. I'm just trying to have poise. I felt the change come after the Iowa game when I had a talk with myself."

Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley, who called a brilliant game against Ohio State, said he's seen signs that Williams is turning the corner.

"He threw the ball well against Minnesota, and I know guys say Minnesota isn't very good, but regardless of who's back there, hitting a receiver in stride is a good throw.

"The last three weeks, you can see the light switch flickering for us in the passing game. I think it's finally starting to come together. Our wide receivers are doing a better job getting separation. Our protection is holding up allowing us time to throw downfield. And we're making the plays."

Some of the best plays Williams made were clutch, physical runs while Illinois ran out the final 8:09 of the game, never giving the Buckeyes one final chance with the ball.

Four times he ran for first downs, frustrating Ohio State and giving Illinois a victory that just might be the biggest in the history of the program.

It's the first time Illinois has defeated the nation's No. 1-ranked team since 1956, and the first time Illinois has done it on the road.

More than that, it was the way Illinois took the game to Ohio State, straight on, no gimmicks, running for 260 yards against a defense that was the best in the land.

When cornerback Vontae Davis went out with a concussion, freshman Marcus Thomas from Chicago stepped in and played magnificently. He intercepted one pass and deflected another that linebacker Antonio Steele picked off.

When receiver Rejus Benn went out (also with a concussion), Decatur's Marques Wilkins and Ohio native Brian Gamble stepped up, each reeling in a touchdown catch.

And when fullback Russ Weil went out with a twisted knee, Rahkeem Smith took over and helped open holes.

After the game, Williams said he was still trying to comprehend what had happened.

"It's beautiful," he said of the improving offense. "It's just fun to see this team picking it up offensively and throwing it a little and not being so one-dimensional in the running game."

When the game ended, there was a commotion at midfield when Illinois went out to celebrate. Williams admitted he couldn't recount what happened.

"It didn't see it," Williams said. "I had tears in my eyes."

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.