Ohio State CB Devin Sanchez says he’s playing the opponent and the refs: Fine, let him play them

His aggressiveness against Indiana’s first-round talents at receiver still needs to shine through

Devin Sanchez has five pass interference penalties this season. Fine. (Photo by Doug Lesmerises)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Devin Sanchez says he has two opponents on game day.

“It’s just me playing with a chip on my shoulder,” Ohio State’s sophomore cornerback said this week, “and knowing that I’ve got to go out here and play the opposing team and the refs.”

I don’t think Sanchez should change much of what he’s doing, and it doesn’t sound like he’s planning to. (Slightly less grabby should suffice.) If he thinks officials are making his life difficult, that’s probably better than believing he needs to back off his aggressiveness.

Sanchez (6-foot-2, 199 pounds) and Jermaine Mathews (5-11, 195) vs. Indiana receivers Charlie Becker (6-4, 208) and Nick Marsh (6-3, 210) is a fantastic matchup in this Ohio State-Indiana Top 5 showdown. Becker is a potential Top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and Marsh is viewed as a first-rounder as well.