Ohio State got through Indiana, and that win may end up sitting at the center of the Buckeyes’ regular season story.
The Buckeyes escaped with a 19-15 victory over the Hoosiers last Saturday, then rolled straight into their bye week with their Big Ten picture still very much alive. Ohio State is 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the conference, one of four teams that can still mathematically reach the Big Ten title game in Indianapolis in December.
That possibility carries some extra weight because of what happened last year. Ohio State was beaten by Indiana in the conference championship game, 13-10, so this latest meeting gave Ryan Day’s team a familiar kind of stress test.
The Buckeyes also survived a tense finish without quarterback Julian Sayin for the final minutes of the fourth quarter. The game ended with a stop built on inches, as Nick Marsh’s toe went out of bounds on what would have been a game-winning touchdown catch from Josh Hoover.
Now the attention shifts to what comes next, starting with a Halloween night trip to face USC in Los Angeles. And that’s where the conversation turns: was Indiana the toughest hurdle on Ohio State’s regular-season slate?
Given what remains, the answer looks like yes.
A win over USC would hand the Trojans two losses and could narrow the Big Ten race in a hurry. The following weekend brings Oregon to Columbus, but the Ducks are in a rough spot of their own. They are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, already carrying a non-conference loss to Oklahoma State and also seeing their conference title hopes take a hit when UCLA beat them in Eugene.
Oregon’s situation may get even more complicated, too, with star wide receiver Evan Stewart’s status uncertain for Saturday’s game against Illinois after last weekend’s DUI incident. That could shape the Ducks by the time they meet Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 7.
Northwestern is the oddball in all of this. The Wildcats are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten, and they cracked the AP Poll two weeks ago before staying there. Ohio State still looks like the toughest game left on their schedule, and another loss could hurt Northwestern’s College Football Playoff hopes unless other results break their way.
For Ohio State, the path is simple enough: keep winning, and the Indiana game will age very well. If the Buckeyes run the table after the bye, that victory should look even stronger when selection Sunday arrives and the seeding picture comes into focus.
In Other News...
Urban Meyer Just Turned Up Pressure On Ohio State's QB Decision
With Julian Sayin sidelined by injury, Ohio States quarterback picture has suddenly become a lot more complicated, and Urban Meyer is the latest voice weighing in on how the Buckeyes should sort through it. The former Buckeyes coach said Tavien St. Clair should be next in line to play, adding another layer of scrutiny to a spot that was already under the microscope as Ryan Day and his staff work through their options.
The timing matters because Ohio State is using the bye week to let St. Clair and Fahey compete for the job, with the staff trying to identify the best player to steer the offense forward. For a program built on championship expectations, the decision carries real weight, and Meyers comments only sharpen the focus on how quickly the Buckeyes need to settle on a direction. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Day Fuels A Bigger Ohio State Officiating Debate
Ryan Day made it clear after Ohio States recent game against Indiana that he was still bothered by what he saw from the officials. The Buckeyes coach pointed to multiple missed pass interference calls, including one involving Jeremiah Smith, and said the overall quality of the officiating hurt his team. For a program used to every detail being scrutinized, that kind of postgame frustration tends to linger well beyond the final whistle.
Days comments also add another layer to a familiar part of the conversation around Ohio State, where one close call can quickly become a bigger debate about consistency and standards. His criticism was not limited to a single sequence, either, but to the broader issue of how the game was handled. Whether the league responds or not, it is the sort of complaint that keeps replaying in the aftermath of a tight game. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio States Quarterback Battle Just Got Real For Luke Fahey
Luke Faheys first real taste of college game action did not come easily against Indiana. After stepping in for the injured starting quarterback, the Ohio State quarterback failed to complete a pass and also drew a penalty, an uneven debut that immediately underscored how steep the learning curve can be once the lights come on for real.
Even so, Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith left the door wide open for Fahey during the upcoming bye week. Both coaches emphasized his work ethic and upside, and Day said Fahey and Tavien St. Clair will get reps as the Buckeyes sort through the position, with the job going to the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win. [Read more 🡒]