The Buckeyes excelled in all three categories, earning a surprise win over Indiana

For the second time this month, the narrative that Ohio State coach Ryan Day is struggling to win against a top-five opponent has been emphatically weakened. On Nov. 2, the Buckeyes erased an early 10-point deficit to slow No. 3 Penn State in what ended up a 20-13 victory was not as close as the final score indicated. And on Saturday, before a raucous crowd at Ohio Stadium, the Buckeyes outlasted undefeated Indiana, 38-15, for a victory that moves them within striking distance of reaching the Big Ten Championship game for the first time since 2020.

Ohio State erased an early deficit by reeling off 31 straight points that reassumed the conference title despite the best efforts of the Hoosiers and their first-year coach, Curt Cignetti. A relentless defensive effort frustrated an Indiana team that, until Saturday, was considered one of the most explosive offenses in the country. But Ohio State’s defense, which has reinvented itself in the middle of the season following a heartbreaking loss to Oregon, never looked better than it did Saturday, holding the Hoosiers to nearly 30 points below their season average.

Quarterback Will Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards and three total scores in another predictable performance. And special teams touchdowns from returner Caleb Downs meant every category contributed to the Buckeyes’ recent victory.

Here are some quick takes from the game:

The first difference

The Hoosiers opened Saturday’s game with an 11-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that doubled as a statement of intent from the multi-score underdogs. There was a big third-down turnover from quarterback Kurtis Rourke to wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, neither of whom Indiana had last season, and two pass-rushing penalties on Ohio State linebacker Davison Igbinosun as the Hoosiers’ plan to challenge the penalty. the background became clear further. A 2-yard touchdown run from tailback Ty Son Lawton gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

But the difference between that drive, which started at the Indiana 30-yard line, and the types of opportunities the Hoosiers were giving Ohio State quickly became the story of the first half. A third-down sack of Rourke by linebacker Cody Simon, who was staying in the Indiana field, knocked the ball loose and gave the Buckeyes a high red zone. Minutes later, Indiana punter James Evans gave Ohio State the ball inside the 10-yard line when he failed to snap the punt, ultimately resulting in a 23-yard loss.

And while the Hoosiers were able to force a turnover that freed Rourke from his nightmare in the first half — deflecting a pass to Howard for an interception, the second to stop the Buckeyes in the red zone midway through the first half — that was it. many bullets the defense could literally avoid. Too many short fields allowed Ohio State to take a 14-7 lead with :21 left in the second quarter as running back TreVeyon Henderson burst into the end zone for a three-play, seven-yard catch.

TreVeyon Henderson escapes multiple tackles on 4-yard TD run to help Ohio State grab lead against Indiana

Playing the game

Trailing 14-7 at halftime, and with the Ohio Stadium crowd starting to boo, Indiana needed a good opening drive to start the third quarter. Even if the Hoosiers couldn’t score, any possession that could milk the clock and turn the field around would go a long way toward settling the team’s collective nerves. The last thing they wanted was a three out and a quick out that would give the ball back to the Buckeyes.

But a good first down gain led to a delay of game penalty that tied Indiana on an unpopular third down. For the better part of two quarters, the Hoosiers’ revamped offensive line struggled to handle the blitzes called for by Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. And this situation was no different: A pass from Rourke, who was tackled from behind by tight end JT Tuimoloau, deflected off the intended receiver’s hands to force a costly punt.

Although Evans caught that without a problem, his punt took two quick bounces away from the Indiana unit. Overtime gave Downs, a senior Alabama transfer, a chance to maneuver around the starting linebacker and gallop into an open spot in the lower right corner. He made one interception down the middle of the field and ran untouched all the way to the end for a 79-yard punt that gave the Buckeyes a 21-7 lead.

Caleb Downs returns a punt 79 yards to the house as Ohio State extends its lead over Indiana

Key statistics

There were plenty of questions about Ohio State’s defense following an eye-opening loss to Oregon last month. That night at Autzen Stadium, where the Buckeyes lost by a point, Jim Knowles’ defense gave up 496 yards of offense, including 341 through the air, and did not record a sack of quarterback Dillon Gabriel. The performance was so affecting that day that he later said the coaching staff spent the next few weeks “reorganizing” the defense ahead of another high-profile meeting with No. 3 Penn State.

Saturday’s dismantling of Indiana, which entered the weekend with the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense at 43.9 points per game, was the latest indication that Knowles’ changes have been a huge success. Despite the Hoosiers’ 11-play, 70-yard drive that produced a touchdown early in the first quarter, Ohio State didn’t allow more than 32 yards on one possession until the waning moments of the second half. Seven of Indiana’s next eight drives amassed 8 yards or less as the Buccaneers’ tight end defense generated relentless heat on Rourke, who finished 8-of-18 for 68 total yards.

The pressure waves from Ohio State’s front seven showed a change in philosophy that has revitalized Knowles’ unit in recent weeks, averaging 35 points to Penn State, Purdue, Northwestern and Indiana combined. There were passing opportunities for linebacker Simon, who recorded 2.5 sacks during the game. There were stunts and twists up front that freed edge rusher Jack Sawyer of 1.5 sacks, matching his senior season. And there were plenty of blitzes that created free runs for Tuimoloau, who also recorded a sack.

By the time the final buzzer sounded, Ohio State had held Indiana to 151 total yards.

‘Our guys had a good look in their eyes’ – Ryan Day on Ohio State’s dominant win vs. Indiana

What’s next for Ohio State?

Everyone knows what’s next in Columbus after the Buckeyes take care of business against Indiana on Saturday afternoon: another upset at Michigan. No one inside the Ohio State program will care about the Wolverines being so successful in their first season except for former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who is now with the Los Angeles Chargers. No one will care that the Wolverines have lost their most since 2017 and they won’t even sniff this year’s College Football Playoff conversation. The key for Day and his team is a chance to snap a three-game winning streak at Michigan that is the program’s longest since losing three straight to the Wolverines from 1995-97. None of the Ohio State seniors who passed through the NFL Draft for a chance to chase a national title ever knocked off The Team Up North. They are waiting patiently for next week’s replay.

What’s next for Indiana?

The coming weeks are likely to be filled with angst and uncertainty about a team whose College Football Playoff resume will be reviewed ad nauseam until the bracket is officially revealed on Dec. 8, when all conference championships are played. Between now and then, the Hoosiers will likely get their 11th win of the season in the home finale against Purdue, going 1-10 overall and 0-8 in Big Ten play, but that’s all Indiana can do. Cignetti’s team still won’t win against ranked opponents. Nor will it have a strength of schedule that ranks anywhere near the top 50 nationally on the Sagarin scale. Like it or not, the Hoosiers are in the midst of a fortnight of comparisons between themselves and any number of two-loss teams from the SEC. And there’s a good chance they won’t have enough contention to land a big spot in this year’s field.

Michael Cohen covers college football and basketball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Follow him on @Michael_Cohen13.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

Find out more about College Football Follow your favorites to get information about sports, news and more