COLUMBUS — Every Friday we’ll bring you a quick-hit look at the game ahead for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State at Indiana
Kickoff: Noon
Network: Fox
Announcers: Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, Jenny Taft
History: Ohio State leads the all-time series 81-13-5. The Buckeyes had won 30 straight before the Hoosiers’ victory in the Big Ten Championship Game last year.
Info: Ohio State game notes & Indiana game notes
Game trailer
Buckeye I’ll be watching Saturday
RT Phillip Daniels: It's great that Ohio State is getting him back, especially now with the unexpected absence of Austin Siereveld. But you have to be a little worried about Daniels being rusty in this game after being on the shelf for more than a month. I thought Daniels played well against Texas the last time we saw him, but this is a big ask to pick up right where he left off. Indiana was strategic in attacking the right side of OSU's offensive line last year because it viewed Tegra Tshabola as the weak link. I wouldn't call Daniels a weak link, but I'm expecting Indiana to target him early to see how his legs are after so much time off. — Bill
Slot Jay Timmons: Welcome back, freshman. After playing 78 percent of the snaps against Texas, Timmons went out with an injury in the second half against Illinois and missed the Iowa and Maryland games. Indiana is in 11 personnel constantly, so expect a healthy Timmons to be on the field a lot against the Hoosiers. Indiana’s slot receivers aren’t a threat — Davion Chandler and Tyler Morris have combined for 15 catches on 26 targets while outside receivers Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker have combined for 59 catches on 82 targets. But that just frees up the speedy Timmons to blitz a little more often. He has come after the quarterback four times this season and created pressure three times. How about four more shots at getting after Josh Hoover in this game alone? — Doug
One thing I want Ohio State to do Saturday
Cut it loose on defense against Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover. Matt Patricia tends to get conservative against quarterbacks who have some scrambling potential. That plan worked until it didn't against Texas. Ohio State's defense doesn't need to go all-out blitz on Hoover all game, but Patricia needs to dial up the aggression some to make sure his defense is getting off the field on third down. — Bill
Get to tempo in the first quarter and try to get Julian Sayin locked into the game with some offensive urgency. We see it in the two-minute drill, and Ryan Day has acknowledged they could bring that into other parts of the game at times. Bill has also pointed out how the Hoosiers lost the two biggest brains on their defense in Aiden Fisher and D’Angelo Ponds. So give Sayin a chance to get the Hoosiers on their heels early. — Doug
Another game to watch with Ohio State in mind
Nebraska at Oregon, 11 PM, Fox: Can the Ducks get off the mat? Are the Cornhuskers dangerous? Nebraska almost beat Indiana last week. If it hangs with Oregon (or even just looks competitive again), then Ohio State's trip to Lincoln before the Michigan game will have my full attention. — Bill
Stat to know
Indiana hasn’t lost the turnover battle in 30 straight games dating back to a September 2024 win over Maryland. That was Curt Cignetti’s second Big Ten game with the Hoosiers in which Indiana turned it over four times and still won by two scores. That streak includes Ohio State’s 38-15 win over the Hoosiers in 2024 when both teams turned it over once. According to Indiana, it’s the longest streak of its kind in FBS football since at least 1995.
But Indiana’s overall turnover edge is way down this year. The Hoosiers were plus-22 in turnovers last season, which led the nation, and are only plus-three so far this year. In Indiana’s win over Northwestern, neither team turned it over. Against Nebraska, the Cornhuskers had one turnover and the Hoosiers none. In last year’s Big Ten title game, both the Buckeyes and Hoosiers turned it over once.
In their three-game playoff run last year, the Hoosiers had a 5-0 turnover advantage.
This season, Indiana hasn’t thrown an interception and has lost one fumble. The Hoosiers have four interceptions on defense.
Ohio State has turned it over six times, but that includes three picks by backup quarterbacks and one by Julian Sayin on the last-play desperation throw against Texas. So it’s really only two turnovers.
Meanwhile, Ohio State has forced eight turnovers — four picks and four fumbles.
That’s quite a streak by Indiana. The turnover battle matters a lot. So keep in mind eight turnovers forced by Ohio State this year compared to four by Indiana. — Doug
Uniform Look
Indiana crowd plan
Lines
Ohio State -3.5
Over-under 50.5
Picks
Bill: Ohio State 28-21
Doug: Ohio State 28-17
On the season
Bill: 5-1 straight up, 3-3 spread, 3-3 over-under
Doug: 6-0 straight up, 2-4 spread, 3-3 over-under
Your vote
Indiana will win: 13 percent
Ohio State will win by 3 points or fewer: 23 percent
Ohio State will win by 4 points or more: 65 percent
Combined score of 51 points or more: 32 percent
Combined score of 50 points or fewer: 68 percent
Tracking network and kickoff times for the season
Network
Fox: 3
BTN: 2
ABC: 1
CBS: 1
Announcers
Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt: 3
Jeff Levering, Jake Butt: 1
Mark Followill, Jake Butt: 1
Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit: 1
Brad Nessler, Charles Davis: 1
Kickoff time
Noon: 3
12:30: 1
3:30: 1
4:15: 1
7:30: 1
Also
• Since the start of Ryan Day’s tenure in 2019, Ohio State has 29 road wins, which is tied for the most in the nation.
• Indiana is getting the Ohio State Big Noon treatment. This is the Hoosiers’ fourth game, and third home game, at noon. Their trip to Michigan next week is also a noon game on Fox.
• Jeremiah Smith needs one touchdown catch to tie Michigan’s Braylon Edwards at 39 for the most by a Big Ten receiver.
• Indiana’s 22-game winning streak is the longest by a Big Ten team since Ohio State won 24 straight in 2012 and 2013.
• Indiana blocked a punt against Rutgers and has blocked a total of 10 punts and kicks since 2024, tied for the most in the nation.