COLUMBUS, Ohio — Will Howard threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another, contributing to No. 2 Ohio State’s decisive 38-15 victory over previously unbeaten No. 5 Indiana on Saturday.
Ohio State improved their record to 10-1 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten, setting themselves up for a crucial matchup against Michigan next Saturday. If they win, the Buckeyes will secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship game for the first time since the 2020 season, which would lead to a rematch with No. 1 Oregon, who narrowly defeated them earlier in the season, 32-31.
The Hoosiers also held a strong 10-1 overall record, with a 7-1 conference mark, but faced their former nemesis as they struggled to overcome special teams errors and an aggressive Ohio State defense that managed to sack quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times.
Indiana’s best opportunity to break their losing streak against Ohio State since 1988 came to an end in the first half, when Hoosiers punter James Evans mishandled a snap, giving the Buckeyes possession at the Indiana seven-yard line. TreVeyon Henderson quickly capitalized by scoring on a 4-yard run, putting Ohio State ahead 14-7.
Shortly after halftime, Caleb Downs made a significant play by returning an Evans punt from the Ohio State 21-yard line. He sprinted down the sideline, cut toward the middle of the field, and outran defenders for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7. This marked the Buckeyes’ first punt return for a touchdown since 2014.
Howard completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards and had noteworthy support from Emeka Egbuka, who caught seven passes for 80 yards and scored a touchdown. Indiana did find the end zone twice through running back Ty Son Lawson, who led his team with 79 rushing yards, but Rourke struggled with only 68 passing yards on 8 of 18 attempts.
The outcome has implications for both teams. Indiana, which was aiming for its first conference title since sharing the honor in 1967, saw its hopes dashed as it fell to Ohio State for the 30th consecutive time. On the other hand, the Buckeyes capitalized on their opponent’s mistakes, taking charge after leading 14-7 at halftime, aided by an offensive line that exceeded expectations despite several injuries.
In terms of rankings, concerns about Indiana’s strength of schedule, as they had not faced a ranked team prior to this clash with Ohio State, are likely to affect their poll position. Following this loss, it’s anticipated that the Hoosiers will drop in the rankings.
Indiana is set to close out the regular season with a home game against Purdue next Saturday, while Ohio State will welcome their rival Michigan for an intensely awaited matchup.