Indiana heads into Saturday afternoon in Bloomington still trying to show it belongs in the same conversation as last year’s version of the Hoosiers, and the Nebraska game made that point loud and clear. The first six weeks have been solid, but not spotless, and definitely not the same dominant march that carried Indiana to a perfect 16-0 National Championship.
This group looks different. Indiana lost a lot from that title run, including star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and Josh Hoover has stepped into that role. There are still some recognizable pieces in the mix, with Steven Daily and Charlie Becker among them, while Nick Marsh is one of the newer faces helping fill out the roster.
That was the backdrop for what Nebraska brought last Saturday. The Cornhuskers pushed Indiana hard and, in the fourth quarter, seemed to hand the Hoosiers the win. Indiana escaped, but not cleanly, and that mattered for more than just the box score.
Ohio State was paying attention.
The Buckeyes were relieved to get that outcome because it kept the Game of the Year alive for this weekend. And yes, that label is being worn proudly here, because this matchup feels loaded with meaning for Ohio State. It is the first time the Buckeyes are about to face a real test since the meltdown in Austin.
That loss still hangs around this team. It took away what could have been an undefeated run through one of the toughest schedules college football has ever seen, and it remains a sore spot as Ohio State heads into another major spot on the calendar.
For Indiana, the stakes are different but no less real. The Hoosiers still don’t have a signature win on the resume this season, and Saturday gives them a chance to change that. It’s also a chance to prove something to themselves: that this year’s team can match the standard set by last year’s squad.
Last season’s loss to Indiana came down to something simple. The Hoosiers didn’t need trickery or a fluky bounce.
They beat Ohio State at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and wore the Buckeyes down. Ohio State still had a late opening to steal the game back, but self-inflicted mistakes ruined that chance.
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Marvin Harrison Jr And C.J. Stroud Just Revived A Buckeye Storyline
Marvin Harrison Jr. is heading from Arizona to Houston, and the move puts him back alongside the quarterback who helped make him one of the most electric receivers in college football. For Ohio State fans, it is a reminder of how quickly Harrisons Buckeye rsum came together, from big nights in the 2022 Rose Bowl and the 2023 Sugar Bowl to the kind of complete performance he delivered against Penn State in 2022.
The trade also gives Harrison a fresh chance after a difficult NFL start, and it arrives with a familiar face at quarterback in C.J. Stroud. For a former Buckeye star trying to reset his momentum, the reunion brings back the kind of setting where his talent looked at its most natural, and it leaves one obvious question hanging over the next chapter of his career. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Still Has One Problem Fans Cant Ignore
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Connor Hawkins entered the season with a track record that suggested steadier days ahead, but his 2026 form has not matched expectations. For a program that usually expects clean execution in the kicking game, the continued uncertainty around field goals keeps showing up in the places Ohio State can least afford it, and until that changes, fans are going to keep watching this part of the team with unease. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Faces One Big Lineup Question Before Ohio State's Indiana Test
Ryan Day sounded encouraged this week about Ohio States health heading into Indiana, saying most of the six starters who missed the Maryland game are expected back. That group included Brandon Inniss, Devin McCuin, Austin Siereveld, Phillip Daniels, Christian Alliegro and Jay Timmons, with some of those absences tied to non-football-related issues. Getting that much experience back would matter for a Buckeyes team trying to keep its rhythm intact as the season tightens.
Indiana, though, gives Ohio State little margin for error. Day pointed to the Hoosiers recent success and made clear they are not the kind of opponent to take lightly, especially with lineup questions still hanging over his own side. The Buckeyes should be closer to full strength, but this matchup still comes with one obvious layer of uncertainty: exactly how quickly those returning starters can settle back in and how much of the rotation changes with them. [Read more 🡒]