5 things we learned from the Ohio State football loss to Indiana
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The Ohio State Buckeyesfell to the Indiana Hoosiers 13–10 on Saturday night in Indianapolis, a game marked by uncharacteristic Ohio State mistakes and a defensive battle that kept both offenses off balance. It never felt like the Buckeyes found their usual rhythm, and Indiana capitalized on just enough of those miscues to pull out the upset. Between the stalled drives, missed chances, and individual matchups that swung in unexpected directions, Ohio State left plenty on the field.
The Ohio State offensive line needs work for the CFP run
For the first time in a long while, Ohio State’s offensive line was simply beaten. Julian Sayin was sacked five times, and the line struggled to sort out Indiana’s stunts and pressures. Sayin looked rattled at moments, but still delivered repeatedly through the air. This has to be corrected before the College Football Playoff because a performance like this cannot happen again.
Ohio State had costly fourth-down miscues
Ohio State’s fourth-down execution was a problem all night. Sayin’s quarterback sneak on fourth and one deep in Indiana territory was overturned after review, giving the ball back to the Hoosiers. He went in a bit soft on the attempt, and it cost the Buckeyes points. A field goal would have been the smarter call, especially considering what happened next.
On its following fourth and short, Ohio State opted for the kick, and Jayden Fielding missed from 27 yards, sending a collective groan through Buckeye Nation. In hindsight, inserting Lincoln Kienholz for short-yardage sneaks might have made the difference. Sayin is a terrific quarterback, but doesn’t have the size to grind out those tough yards. If Ohio State wants to chase another national title, Kienholz needs to be part of the short-yardage run game.
Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith did his part
Jeremiah Smith was outstanding once again, finishing with eight catches for 144 yards and several huge plays. He repeatedly beat his former high school teammate, Indiana corner D’Angelo Ponds, and carried a heavy load for the Buckeyes’ offense. He looked every bit like the best wide receiver and overall player in the country. Despite the loss, his impact was undeniable.
The Ohio State secondary got burned too often
It’s never fun to point out defensive struggles, but nearly every Ohio State corner not named Davison Igbinosun got beaten for big gains or touchdowns. Freshman Devin Sanchez was beaten on a quick out, Lorenzo Styles Jr. gave up a deep ball, and Jermaine Matthews was beaten multiple times, including once for a touchdown and once on the deep shot from Mendoza to Charlie Becker that essentially sealed the game.
These are correctable mistakes, and every corner gets beat occasionally, but it happened too often in high-leverage moments and became a deciding factor in the loss. The film will not be fun to watch, but it will be necessary.
The Ohio State offense needs more contributors
Jeremiah Smith’s stat line may look great, but it also highlights how limited the rest of the passing attack was. In the first half, only Carnell Tate and Smith recorded catches, which simply isn’t sustainable. The tight ends and running backs got more involved after halftime, but Ohio State needs consistent production beyond its top two receivers. Max Klare, brought in from Purdue as the top tight end transfer, finished with just two catches. Ryan Day, Brian Hartline, and Keenan Bailey must find ways to diversify this offense. Everyone knows how special Tate and Smith are, and while they can carry the load most weeks, other playmakers have to leave their mark if Ohio State plans to win back-to-back national titles.
One can only hope this loss sparks the same fire it did a year ago, when the Buckeyes responded to the setback against Michigan by ripping off four straight wins and capturing a championship.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs Indiana: 5 things we learned from the loss in Indy
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