Buckeyes Waltz Over Hoosiers 56-14 in Columbus

Written By: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The Ohio State Buckeyes had won 26 straight contests over the Indiana Hoosiers prior to today. The #2 Buckeyes made quick work to move that winning streak to 27 as they rolled over the Indiana Hoosiers (3-7) by a score of 56-14 to improve to 10-0 on the season. The loss ensures IU will not be bowl eligible for a second straight campaign and dooms the Hoosiers to a losing season. Ohio State jumped out to a 21-0 lead and outgained IU 660-269 on the afternoon.

Ohio State had the ball first but were unable to pick up a first down, punting the ball away to Indiana after coming up short on third and short. Connor Bazelak was back at quarterback for Indiana after missing last week with an injury. The Hoosiers were quickly overwhelmed by the Buckeye defense and punted without picking up a first down. Ohio State took over at the 35-yard line and Miyan Williams scampered for 41 yards on two runs followed by Marvin Harrison Jr. getting the ball inside the ten-yard line on a reverse. C.J. Stroud found a wide open Emeka Egbuka on third and goal to open the scoring. IU went three and out again and the Buckeyes found the end zone again on its next possession. This time it was Dallan Hayden on a touchdown run after a long screen pass reception for Xavier Johnson. The Hoosiers went three and out for a third straight possession and C.J. Stroud connected with Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 58-yard score to make it 21-0. Tom Allen had seen enough of the offense with Bazelak in charge and Dexter Williams entered the game for IU’s fourth drive. He immediately made an impact, rushing for a first down on a gain of sixteen, completing a long pass to Andison Coby for 49 yards and then finding AJ Barner for an eight-yard touchdown. With the score 21-7, IU’s defense forced a punt and had a chance to get it back to a one-score game. Ohio State stopped the IU offense without a first down though and took back over near midfield. On third and one, Miyan Williams found a seam and ran 48-yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 21 points at 28-7. The teams traded possessions with Ohio State eventually getting inside IU territory and facing a third and two. That play was stopped after a gain of one so the Buckeyes went for it on fourth and short. The Hoosiers stuffed the carry short of the marker and took possession back with 1:31 left in the half. Jaylin Lucas picked up a pair of first downs on the ground and Williams connected with Malachi Holt-Bennett for 29 yards to set IU up in OSU territory. However, the Hoosiers went backwards from there and the half ended as Dexter Williams was sacked.

Indiana began the second half positively with Emory Simmons taking a reverse 44 yards but a fourth and two pass from Dexter Williams was errant and over the head of tight end Aaron Steinfeldt to end the drive. Ohio State went three and out, giving it back to Indiana at the 23-yard line. The Hoosiers were forced to punt and James Evans had his effort blocked by the Buckeyes who recovered at the IU two-yard line. A couple of plays later, Stroud lobbed it to a wide-open Cade Stover to make the score 35-7. Ohio State added another touchdown from Stover and a 71-yard run from Xavier Johnson with awful tackling from IU. With the score 49-7, Ohio State muffed a punt that was recovered by Indiana and Dexter Williams threw his second touchdown pass, this one an 18-yard strike to Donovan McCulley to make it 49-14. Ohio State kept its starters in and C.J. Stroud added another passing touchdown as Kamryn Babb caught a short pass to make it 56-14.

Dexter Williams was 6-19 for 107 yards plus 46 yards on the ground to pace the Hoosiers but it was way too little to even be competitive against the #2 team in the land. Ohio State outgained Indiana 660 to 269. OSU ran for 340 yards with 7.9 yards per carry and C.J. Stroud threw for five touchdown passes. IU will next travel to East Lansing to play Michigan State before closing the season against Purdue. Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of this seventh straight defeat for the Indiana Hoosiers.