COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Illinois qualified for its first bowl in five years by bowling over Ohio State.

Kurt Kittner sliced up the 25th-ranked Buckeyes with four touchdown passes as the Fighting Illini locked up a winning season with a 46-20 victory Saturday.

It was the most points surrendered by Ohio State in Ohio Stadium since Michigan hung a 58-6 loss on the Buckeyes in 1946. In 87 previous meetings, the only time Illinois had scored more points against Ohio State was in 1904, 46-0.

The loss prevented the Buckeyes (6-5, 3-4 Big Ten) from locking up a winning record. Ohio State must win at Michigan next week for a winning season to meet the minimum requirement to play in a bowl.

Illinois (6-4, 3-4), which has won three of its last four, beat Ohio State and Michigan on the road for the first time ever.

So lopsided was the game that one of the biggest cheers of the game came when a middle-aged man ran onto the field midway through the fourth quarter with Illinois ahead 43-20. He was handcuffed and led away while the crowd applauded and screamed.

Most of a crowd of 93,429 had left by that time.

It was a meltdown of epic proportions for an Ohio State team that finished last season ranked No. 2, was ninth in the preseason poll and hadn't fallen out of the top 25 since the middle of the 1994 season.

After a punt on their first possession, the Illini scored the next four times they go the ball and six of the next seven. The only time they didn't score, they had four cracks at the end zone from the Ohio State 1 but the Buckeyes held.

Kittner completed 17-of-31 passes for 221 yards, most on short flips that the Illini turned into big gains. Jameel Cook had seven receptions for 100 yards, including a short toss that he turned into a 25-yard touchdown.

Kittner hit Josh Whitman on scoring plays of 2 and 5 yards, the latter tipped by Ohio State cornerback Ahmed Plummer away from intended receiver Michael Dean and into the hands of Whitman.

Kittner, who has 22 touchdown passes and only two interceptions, also found Brandon Lloyd on a 30-yard score.

The Illini also rushed for 266 yards, led by Steve Havard's 104 yards on 28 carries, including a 7-yard run.

Illinois has won five of the last seven meetings in Columbus.

Meanwhile, Ohio State's offense had three turnovers, resulting in two Illinois touchdowns and a field goal.

Michael Wiley was one of the few bright spots for the Buckeyes, gaining 128 yards on 19 carries including a 35-yard TD run that got Ohio State as close as 19-7 in the second quarter.

The Illini put the game out of reach with a 10-point burst in the final 34 seconds of the half.

Neil Rackers, who also converted field goals of 24, 47 and 38 yards, boomed a 50-yarder with 34 seconds left in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff, Ken-Yon Rambo took the ball from five yards deep in the end zone and was trying to avoid a tackle when Antoineo Harris punched the ball loose and recovered at the Ohio State 1.

Three plays later, Kittner hit Whitman over the middle for a 29-7 lead.

Steve Bellisari was 9-of-24 for 133 yards with one interception for Ohio State. He has hit on more than half of his passes in only one of his last nine games.