Off-Script Ohio: Previewing Ohio State’s top-five showdown at Indiana

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This is the one Ohio State fans have had circled since December.

No. 4 Ohio State travels to No. 5 Indiana on Saturday at noon ET on FOX for a rematch of last year’s 13-10 Big Ten title game loss in Indianapolis. The Buckeyes are 3.5-point favorites, but going into Bloomington against the defending national champions is about as tough a road test as there is in the Big Ten.

What to know about Indiana’s offense

Indiana looks a little different than last year, but they’re still very good. The Hoosiers rank 20th nationally at 462.7 yards per game and average 40.2 points per game, also inside the top 20. They’re balanced too, averaging 241 passing yards and 221 rushing yards a game.

Josh Hoover has been excellent since transferring in from TCU. He’s completing about 70% of his passes with 17 touchdowns and zero interceptions. That’s a huge change for a quarterback whose biggest knock coming in was that he was interception prone. That says a lot about Curt Cignetti’s coaching staff.

The backfield is a two-headed monster in Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr., who both have over 550 rushing yards. Richard is averaging 8.4 yards per carry. The receiver room is just as dangerous. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh both have 30 catches for 530 yards.

Becker has eight touchdowns and Marsh has six, and it’s hard to find a better receiver duo in the Big Ten.

What to know about Indiana’s defense

The defense might be even better. Indiana is allowing just 11.8 points per game, fifth in the country, and 237.8 yards per game, fourth nationally. The Hoosiers also haven’t lost the turnover battle in a single game this season.

The pass rush is led by Tobi Osunsami and Stephen Daley, who each have five sacks. Isaiah Jones and Rojiah Hardy are a strong linebacker duo in the middle.

This is a complete, well-coached defense that won’t give Ohio State much for free.

Most important matchups

Osunsami and Daley vs. Ohio State’s offensive tackles. This might be the biggest matchup of the game.

Phillip Daniels’ status is still worth watching, and whoever starts at the other tackle spot has to hold up against two edge rushers with five sacks apiece. If Indiana can get to Julian Sayin, it changes everything.

Devin Sanchez and Jermaine Mathews Jr. vs. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Ohio State’s corners just had their best combined game of the season against Maryland. Becker and Marsh are a completely different level of challenge, and Becker made two of the biggest catches against Mathews in last year’s title game.

Julian Sayin vs. a good team. Last year against Indiana, Sayin went 21-of-29 for 258 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He was solid, but Ohio State needed more.

Sayin is coming off a sloppy game against Maryland, and this is his chance to show he can be the difference in a game like this.

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