Week One Game Day Primer – No. 3/4 Ohio State Buckeyes
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Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
What: Indiana Hoosiers (0-0) vs. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes (0-0)
When: Saturday, September 2 at 3:30 EST
Where: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN
How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on CBS and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.
Series History: The Indiana Hoosiers and Ohio State Buckeyes have played 95 times and, to no one’s surprise, the series has been as lopsided as nearly any long-running series in collegiate football. The Buckeyes have won 78 of the 95 games, including 27 straight. IU’s last victory against Ohio State came in 1988 when they thumped the Buckeyes 41-7 in John Cooper’s first season as head coach of the Scarlet and Gray. People in their mid 30s and younger have never seen Indiana knock off the Ohio State Buckeyes on the gridiron. A glance at the recent games, those between current head coaches Ryan Day and Tom Allen don’t offer much hope for IU either. Ohio State has won those four games by scores of 51-10, 42-35 (2020), 54-7 and 56-14.
What’s at Stake: After a memorable 2020 season, the Indiana Hoosiers have had a very disappointing pair of seasons and most national experts have Tom Allen firmly “on the hot seat” entering this campaign. The Hoosiers have made a number of changes to the coaching staff and have infused the roster with additions from the transfer portal. There are so many questions surrounding this team on both sides of the ball and the season opener will be fans first chance to see what answers Allen and company have come up with and if 2023 can be any better than the past two seasons have been.
The Buckeyes are favored by 30 points or more (depending on which sportsbook you look at) and it would be shocking if this was a close contest in the fourth quarter but much can be learned for both teams. Ohio State has questions of their own: offensive line and quarterback. This will be the first chance to set the tone for the new season.
A Few Things to Watch
1. New Roles and New Faces
The Indiana Hoosiers will likely have 25 to 30 players see significant snaps during Saturday’s opener that were either not with the program for the 2022 season or were redshirted. There will be new starters (at minimum) at quarterback (Tayven Jackson or Brendan Sorsby), wide receiver (DeQuece Carter), cornerback (Jamier Johnson and maybe more), linebacker (Jacob Mangum-Farrar) and defensive line (Andre Carter and Lanell Carr). More players than we will list here will contribute on the two-deep and see important playing time. Beyond that, there is a new defensive coordinator, a new offensive line coach and players like Kamryn Perry and Josh Henderson will be stepping into more prominent roles. All of those changes will take center stage across from a powerhouse opponent. Are they ready for the challenge?
2. Can IU’s Defense Provide Any Resistance?
Ohio State is not without some concerns entering the season. C.J. Stroud is now in the NFL and the Buckeyes are still deciding between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown at quarterback. Both are expected to play against the Hoosiers as the battle between the two extends into the regular season. Ryan Day and the Buckeyes also have to replace the two starting offensive tackles and neither are expected to play at quite the same level as the two that manned those positions in 2022. The skill positions though are as loaded as anyone in the country. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka are stars at wide receivers, Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson are both terrific running backs and Cade Stover is one of the better tight ends in the Big Ten. Tom Allen’s defenses have had very little luck doing anything positive against the Ohio State attack in recent years: Ohio State had 607 yards of offense and 42 points in 2020, 539 yards and 54 points in 2021 and 662 yards plus 56 points last season. Indiana is optimistic about the additions on the defensive line and players like Andre Carter and Lanell Carr’s ability to impact the game. Can the Hoosiers provide a bit of pressure to rattle whoever is playing quarterback at Ohio State? Can they show any more resistance than they have the past few seasons?
3. How Does IU’s Offense Look?
Ohio State returns a number of difference-makers on defense and they expect to take a step forward in 2023, now in year two under defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. IU’s offense is not likely to put up terrific numbers against a potentially elite unit, one that has overwhelmed IU’s offense in the past two meetings. Still, we can start to get a feel for how the Hoosiers' changed attack unfolds. Does the offensive line look any better under new position coach Bob Bostad? Who starts at quarterback and do we see both Tayven Jackson and Brendan Sorsby? Where does Jaylin Lucas line up and can IU get him the ball in space? Fans will get their first glimpse at the new scheme and new personnel and see whether or not the Hoosiers have a chance to outperform the bleak expectations the national analysts have for the 2023 season.
Last and most importantly, college football is back. Take a deep breath, rejoice and enjoy the first step of the 2023 season!
Links From the Week
Indiana’s Defensive Backs Have to Make it About Themselves
Allen and Bell See Difference in Offensive Line
Hoosier Huddle Podcast Episodes
Watch: Tom Allen’s Thursday Game Day Update
Matchup to Watch: Indiana’s Defensive Line vs. Ohio State’s Offensive Line