How can Ohio State beat Indiana? 3 keys for Big Ten title game

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Here are three keys for No. 1 Ohio State against No. 2 Indiana in the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 6:

Don’t let up

It was only a week ago that the Buckeyes were making snow angels in the turf at Michigan Stadium to celebrate the end of a bitter losing streak to their archrivals. While it was a cathartic victory, it will also be a test of endurance to avoid an emotional letdown as they come down from the long-awaited triumph. Following Ryan Day’s first win in The Game in 2019, the Buckeyes suffered a slow start in the Big Ten championship game and trailed Wisconsin at halftime. The anticipation of a battle of unbeatens might render it moot, but it’s hard not to wonder how Ohio State will respond in the immediate aftermath of its first win over Michigan in six years.

Take care of the ball

Though quarterback Julian Sayin was picked off on the Buckeyes’ opening drive at Michigan, he has largely been mistake-free in his first year as a starter, throwing only two interceptions in nine conference games. But precision is paramount against Indiana, which has one of the more disruptive secondaries in the nation. The Hoosiers’ 16 interceptions were the ninth-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision during the regular season, and they failed to intercept a pass in only two games. Louis Moore, an experienced safety who won a lawsuit against the NCAA to gain a sixth year of eligibility, is a defensive back to watch. His five interceptions are tied for third in the FBS.

Get pressure

Indiana’s offensive line was not at full strength in November as starting left guard Drew Evans missed three consecutive games with an unspecified injury before returning last week at Purdue. It nearly threatened them in a scare at Penn State on Nov. 8 as Fernando Mendoza, the Hoosiers’ Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback, took three sacks. The leaks persisted into the following week as Wisconsin sacked Mendoza five times on Nov. 15. The Hoosiers kept Mendoza upright in the regular season finale, but the previous stretch suggests that the Buckeyes’ ascending pass rush might have chances to put Mendoza under duress. When under pressure, Mendoza completes just over 50% of his passes compared to 76.8% while navigating a clean pocket, according to Pro Football Focus.

Key matchup

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith vs. Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds

The perils of leaving Smith in single coverage were apparent at Michigan when he made a double move on cornerback Zeke Berry to get past him for a 35-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. But the Hoosiers have formidable cornerbacks, a group led by Ponds, who was an All-Big Ten first-team selection for a second straight year and has not allowed a touchdown in coverage all year. When Ponds covered Smith last season, he held the superstar receiver to just one 9-yard reception and broke up a pass. The two of them are former high school teammates, having attended Chaminade-Madonna College Prep in Florida. Will the presence of Ponds prevent OSU from making explosive pass plays?

Key stat

5: Years since Ohio State’s last Big Ten championship, which came after it defeated Northwestern in the league title game in 2020.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs Indiana: 3 keys to win Big Ten championship

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