When Indiana and Ohio State meet on October 17 in Bloomington, the spotlight won’t just be on the stars everyone expects to see. Special teams may end up swinging the whole thing.
That matters because the Hoosiers have one of the most dependable kickers around in Nico Radicic, while Ohio State has kept finding new ways to let big games slip through its hands from the kicking game. The Buckeyes are still the only Big Ten team to beat Curt Cignetti during his time at Indiana, and IU’s win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game last December only added more juice to this matchup. The game is still several weeks away, but the tension is already there.
Ohio State’s latest stumble came over the weekend against Texas, when the Buckeyes looked in control for three quarters and carried a 23-3 lead into the fourth. Then the game turned. Ryan Day’s team couldn’t finish the job, and one miss in particular opened the door.
With 4:21 left and Ohio State leading 23-17, Connor Hawkins came on for a 45-yard field goal that could have made things much harder for Texas. He pushed it wide left, and that miss proved massive. Arch Manning then led the Longhorns on the drive that ended with a 24-23 Texas lead and an Ohio State collapse.
Ohio State misses a clutch field goal in a big game?
Some things never change pic.twitter.com/nRuEI1KX6P
- Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) September 13, 2026
For Ohio State, that kind of moment has become a painful pattern. The Buckeyes don’t lose often, but when they do, missed kicks tend to show up in the story.
Recent examples include Georgia in the CFP Semifinals, Miami (FL) in the CFP Quarterfinals, Michigan, and Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. That title-game miss was especially brutal: Jayden Fielding missed from 27 yards with under three minutes left, and Indiana finished off the Buckeyes.
OHIO STATE MISSES THE FIELD GOAL 😱
INDIANA STAYS ON TOP pic.twitter.com/QOjPJBgQvO
- FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2025
Indiana has taken the opposite path. Radicic was 18-for-19 on field goals last season and perfect on all 87 extra-point tries.
In his college career, he has made 30 of 32 field goal attempts. That kind of steadiness matters, especially in a game where scoring chances may be tight and field position could decide everything.
Ohio State’s kicking issues remain a real vulnerability, and Indiana’s reliability in that phase gives the Hoosiers something tangible to lean on when the Buckeyes arrive next month. In a matchup that looks like it could stay close all the way through, the edge at kicker may be one of the biggest edges of all.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Real Opening In The Big Ten Race
Week 2 in the Big Ten brought a little more clarity and a lot more chaos, and Indiana had to like what it saw from the rest of the league. Ohio States collapse after building a strong start against Texas, Oregons second straight stumble after its earlier loss, and Michigans defense holding up against Oklahoma all fed into a race that suddenly feels less tidy than it did a week ago. USC also kept building momentum behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, another reminder that the leagues top tier may be deeper and less predictable than expected.
For Indiana, the value in that disorder is obvious. The Hoosiers do not need the Big Ten to get easy, but they do need the field above them to keep taking turns giving ground, and that is exactly what the opening stretch delivered. With the conference already showing signs of volatility and some of its biggest names still sorting out who they are, Indiana can see a path to mattering in a race that looked more crowded than competitive just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Defensive Rotation Just Put A New Spotlight On Its Depth
Indiana leaned heavily on its defensive depth in the 55-0 win over Howard, and the snap counts told the story just as much as the scoreboard did. The Hoosiers spread the workload across a long list of contributors, with Mario Landino and Chiddi Obiazor standing out among the pressure players and Rolijah Hardy turning in the kind of splash play that can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
What makes the rotation worth watching now is how many different pieces were involved, including freshmen and players still chasing more eligibility. Early in the season, that kind of distribution can be a luxury if everyone stays productive, but it can also become a real evaluation tool as Indiana learns who can hold up once the competition tightens and the game plans get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Waits On Court Fight That Could Cost Two Key Veterans
Indiana football is still waiting on the legal wrangling that could shape the rest of its season, with the eligibility case involving veterans Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ending in court Wednesday without a ruling. The two players are challenging the NCAA over its five-for-five eligibility rule, and the absence of a decision leaves the Hoosiers in a holding pattern as the week moves toward Saturdays game.
The temporary restraining order that had allowed Daley and Wyatt to keep playing has now expired, which means they are ineligible unless the judge acts before the weekend. Attorneys have until Thursday to submit final documentation, but for now Indiana is left watching the calendar as much as the depth chart, hoping the legal process catches up in time to avoid losing two experienced pieces. [Read more 🡒]