Ohio State is heading into its biggest Big Ten test so far, and the Buckeyes may have to lean on an unexpected name in Bloomington.
The matchup with Indiana comes after the game against Texas, when Ohio State blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead. This one brings a top-five showdown, with the Hoosiers awaiting in Bloomington and the Buckeyes carrying the higher ranking into the game.
Jeremiah Smith, widely viewed as the best player in the country, will be central to the plan as usual. But the latest injury update has pushed Legend Bey into a far more important role than Ohio State probably expected.
According to the Big Ten availability report, Ja'Kobi Jackson is out. Jackson had become the most reliable running back on the roster, which makes his absence especially jarring in what should be one of the most important games of the conference slate. It was a surprise because he didn’t appear to be hurt against Maryland, but the report indicates he was injured late in that game and now won’t play.
Ohio State may also be down Isaiah West, who is listed as questionable. That opens the door for Bey to move up to second on the depth chart almost by default.
Bey has not exactly earned steady trust from the coaching staff, and the source of that hesitation has not been limited to on-field performance. Still, Ryan Day may not have much choice now but to give him real work throughout the game. West’s lone bad snap against Maryland - the one that nearly got Julian Sayin killed on the pick-six - only adds to the pressure on the depth behind Bo Jackson.
Bo Jackson remains the clear starter and finally topped 100 rushing yards last week against Maryland. He should handle the bulk of the carries against Indiana. But Bey’s chance is right there in front of him, and it is a meaningful one.
The expectation is that Bey will get at least seven to eight touches. That may not sound like much, but it could be enough to change the way Ohio State views him for the rest of the season if he does something with them. The Buckeyes need more than Smith carrying the offense on his own, no matter how dominant he has been.
If Ohio State is going to leave Bloomington with a win, it needs another weapon to emerge. Bey has a shot to be that guy.
Austin Siereveld is also out, which leaves the offensive line shorthanded again. That doesn’t make the task easier for either Bey or Jackson, but it does sharpen the opportunity for Bey. If he can break off big runs without the starting line in front of him, the staff will be forced to keep him in the mix.
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Indiana Showed Enough Against Ohio State To Fuel A Bigger Debate
Indianas unbeaten run ended in Bloomington, but the way the Hoosiers handled Ohio State left plenty more to chew on than the final score. In a 19-15 loss, Indiana stayed in the fight from start to finish and gave the Buckeyes enough problems to make the game feel far closer than the records suggested, even if the margin never quite turned in its favor.
The late failure to convert on fourth down loomed over everything after the final whistle, the kind of moment that turns a strong showing into a what-if discussion. Charlie Beckers 9 catches for 165 yards kept Indiana moving, while Jeremiah Smith finished with 4 receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown, and the Hoosiers now head into the aftermath with one loss and a much bigger conversation about how close they are to the sports elite. [Read more 🡒]
Cignetti Reveals What Cost Indiana In Painful Ohio State Loss
Curt Cignetti left the postgame podium sounding equal parts frustrated and encouraged after Indianas 19-15 loss to Ohio State, a game in which the Hoosiers had enough defensive resistance to stay in it but could not cash in on the offensive chances that came their way. He pointed to missed opportunities as the difference, with third-quarter turnovers helping swing the flow of the night, even as the defense kept finding ways to make life difficult for the Buckeyes.
Ferrells interceptions were among the standout moments Cignetti mentioned, part of a defensive effort that gave Indiana a chance deep into the game. The next step, he said, is turning a painful finish into a lesson and moving on quickly to Michigan, where the Hoosiers will need a cleaner performance if they want the result to go the other way. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Have One Big AP Poll Debate After Costly Loss
Indianas setback on Oct. 18 came in a wild day around the AP Top 25, one that saw five teams inside the top seven go down, including Notre Dame, Georgia, Alabama and Texas. For Hoosier fans, the immediate concern is less about the national chaos and more about where Indiana lands when the next poll comes out, especially with the rankings likely to get a major shakeup after a Saturday that turned the top of the bracket upside down.
The ripple effects could reach well beyond Bloomington, with other movers such as BYU, Oregon and Oklahoma State also in the mix depending on how the voters sort out the weekends results. Indianas own drop is the obvious subplot, but the broader debate is whether the committee-style scramble around the AP voters leaves the Hoosiers punished more for one costly loss than for what happened everywhere else around them. [Read more 🡒]