Days between losses: 666. Consecutive wins: 22. Plays without a fumble: 1,437.
Three different streaks. One unfamiliar result.
It's not the 19-15 loss to Ohio State that stings the most for Indiana football. It's how it happened.
The Hoosiers hurt themselves with two fumbles lost, two missed field goals, 20 incompletions and a disastrous final step in their loss to Ohio State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
"There were a lot of opportunities, a lot of areas that we could have capitalized on," junior wide receiver Charlie Becker said postgame. "I feel like we kinda beat ourselves in this game."
The miscues started on the Cream and Crimson's very first drive. Redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover missed an open Becker over the middle on third down, leading the Hoosiers to a three-and-out to start the game.
Hoover has missed throws throughout the season. What changed is his efficiency. Through his first five games with Indiana, Hoover completed 76 of 107 passes (71%). In the Hoosiers' two subsequent games against Nebraska and Ohio State, he connected on 32 of 62 passes (51.6% ).
On Saturday, Hoover had a season-low 50% completion rate. His throws regularly sailed over receivers or missed the target. Some were nearly intercepted.
One came on Indiana's final play. Down four points in the final minutes, junior wide receiver Nick Marsh caught the ball in the end zone. Memorial Stadium’s crowd erupted.
Then he looked down.
Marsh threw up his hands in disbelief. And the crowd’s reaction turned from elation to astonishment as it became clear his left foot landed out of bounds, negating the would-be touchdown.
It was far from Indiana’s first mental error of the game. Marsh's was just the last one.
Redshirt senior linebacker Isaiah Jones hit Ohio State freshman quarterback Luke Fahey in the middle of a slide, costing the Hoosiers 15 yards and a first down. Senior kicker Nico Radicic hit the upright on a 32-yard field goal and left a 55-yarder short of the goal posts, leaving six points on the board in a four-point loss.
Sophomore wide receiver Davion Chandler coughed up the football in the third quarter. Hoover followed suit on the next possession.
With the game on the line, Marsh beat his man and streaked wide open up the sideline. Facing pressure in his face, Hoover sent the ball slightly too far outside, leading Marsh toward the boundary. Though the throw was catchable, Hoover said he knew it could've been better.
"It's not Nick's fault at all," Hoover said. "If I put it a little bit further inside, it's an easy catch."
Throughout the game, an Indiana victory was in reach. So was the game-winning touchdown. For a team built on discipline, assigning blame is useless. And moving on is essential.
Marsh is one week removed from a game-winning touchdown against Nebraska. He's one step removed from a game-winning touchdown against Ohio State. Going forward, both plays will be treated the same.
"Yeah, it sucks," Becker said. "But the sun’s gonna rise tomorrow. We’re gonna get better."
In consecutive weeks, Indiana trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter against Big Ten opponents that were undefeated in conference play. In both games, the Hoosiers' defense held firm late and gave the offense a chance to win the game.
That's where the similarities end.
The final play was one of many missteps that ended the Cream and Crimson's nation-leading 22-game win streak. However, with five regular season games still to play and College Football Playoff aspirations, one loss doesn't end the Hoosiers' season.
"We had it and we just didn't make it happen," head coach Curt Cignetti said. "So, it's a hard one to swallow. Learn from it and move on."
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06 and conbanks@iu.edu) and Nathan Shriberg (@NShriberg and naashri@iu.edu) and columnist Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
