Ohio State opened the 1922 season with a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan, followed by a 14-0 beat down of Oberlin. The Buckeyes then lost consecutive games to Michigan, Minnesota, Chicago, and Iowa, setting up a season-ender versus the similarly 2-4 Fighting Illini, who was also winless in conference.

Leaving Columbus on Friday for the game at Illinois Field, Ohio State stopped thirty miles east of Champaign-Urbana to practice in Danville, Illinois. While unpacking for practice, the equipment staff realized they had forgotten to pack footballs for the trip.

The team quickly located a few medicine balls, somehow practicing with those heavier-than-air objects. Perhaps it was all for the better. Ohio State’s offense had little success the next day, but neither did the Illini’s. A 70-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter gave Ohio State a 6-3 victory over the Illini.

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