No. 5 Indiana football (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) will kick off against No. 4 Ohio State (5-1, 3-0 Big Ten) at noon. The Indiana Daily Student will provide live updates for the Hoosiers’ first ever top five matchup at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. For more:
ANELA: Postgame takeaways
Football truly is a game of inches.
Marsh’s foot was just out of bounds. Hoover’s fade pass was just long. That’s how football is. It’s a game of inches, and that was on display today, especially on the game-deciding play.
Costly missed opportunities
During the last drive of the first half and two more in the third quarter, Indiana had the ball in Ohio State’s territory. The Hoosiers scored zero points — it's hard to win when that happens.
FINAL: Indiana 15, Ohio State 19
Marsh couldn't keep his feet in bounds on the potential game-winning touchdown. Ohio State kneels out the clock to seal the victory. It's Indiana's first loss in 666 days.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 1:02
Hoover is taken down for no gain on third-and-4, which sets up an Indiana fourth down with the game on the line. The Hoosier signal-caller drops back to pass with an open Marsh streaking into the endzone. But Hoover leads Marsh out of bounds. Ohio State takes over.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 1:58
Becker hauled in a 25-yard pass in double coverage to kickstart the Hoosiers' potential game-winning drive. An Ohio State roughing the passer penalty will set Indiana up in Buckeye territory after the two-minute timeout.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 3:07
Two Ohio State penalties back the Buckeyes to third-and-24 from their own 26-yard line. The Hoosiers bat down the third down pass and force a second consecutive Ohio State punt. Indiana will begin its next drive at its own 30-yard line.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 4:21
Freshman tight end Trevor Gibbs can't haul in a first-down catch and Hoover overthrew a deep ball on third down. Ohio State returned Gowers' punt to its 40-yard line.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 5:23
Indiana stuffs Jackson on back-to-back carries and the Buckeyes move out of field goal range with a third down holding penalty. Ohio State punts it 35 yards to pin the Hoosiers at their own 6-yard line.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 8:05
Junior defensive lineman Mario Landino sacks Sayin, who loses the football. Ohio State falls on it but lost 18 yards on the play. Sayin is shaken up after the play and exits the game. True freshman quarterback Luke Fahey enters in his place.
ANELA: Josh Hoover looked much better that drive
Hoover went 4 for 6 with 73 yards on the drive, including a perfect 19-yard touchdown pass to Marsh. Like last week’s fourth quarter against Nebraska, it felt like the Heath, Texas, native was more poised in the pocket and accurate with his throws with Indiana down two-scores.
Indiana 15, Ohio State 19 – Q4 10:30
Indiana answers with a 19-yard touchdown strike from Hoover to Marsh. Hoover then hits Richard to convert a two-point attempt and make it a four-point game.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 19 – Q4 12:46
On fourth-and-1, Ohio State runs play action. Sayin lofts the ball downfield to Smith, who reels in a 38-yard touchdown over Sharpe. The Buckeyes attempt a two-point conversion, but it’s no good.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – END OF Q3
Sayin hits sophomore wide receiver Phillip Bell for 12 yards on third-and-8. Ohio State will begin the fourth quarter with the ball on Indiana's 47-yard line.
ANELA: Why would you kick the 55-yard field goal?
I know Hoover has been holding his shoulder area after every throw, but I have several issues with kicking the field goal. First off, earlier in the quarter, the Hoosiers went for it on a fourth-and-five from Ohio State’s 27-yard line. Now, further back, Indiana opted to kick it with Radicic, instead of its long kicker, redshirt senior Paddy McAteer. Why? It doesn’t make sense. Not only is it puzzling, but the defense that has held Ohio State to only 249 yards through three quarters and forced two turnovers has to bail out Indiana again.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – Q3 1:56
Indiana lines up to go for it on fourth-and-6. Cignetti then burns his first timeout of the second half and brings on the field goal unit. Radicic's 55-yard field goal attempt falls short.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – Q3 3:54
Hoover is slow to get up after an 8-yard scramble on first down. He heads to the sideline and seventh-year senior Grant Wilson enters the game. Hoover returns to the game after one play. He winced after a 16-yard completion to fifth-year senior wide receiver Tyler Morris.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – Q3 6:21
Sayin overthrows Smith and finds Ferrell for the second time today. Indiana gets a huge interception to keep it a one-possession game and take over at its own 17-yard line.
ANELA: Indiana can’t get out of its own way.
At the very least, it feels like this game should be tied. Not only did Indiana miss the field goal in the second quarter, but the Hoosiers fumbled twice in the third quarter. Hoover has missed a few key throws to open receivers as well.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – Q3 9:05
Hoover hits Becker down the sideline for 36 yards to keep Indiana's drive alive on third down. Four plays later, Hoover gets hit in the backfield by Ohio State junior safety Jaylen McClain and loses the ball on fourth down. The Buckeyes recover and claim possession at their own 38-yard line.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 13 – Q3 11:51
Redshirt senior defensive back Jamari Sharpe breaks up a pass from Sayin intended for Inniss in the end zone on third down. Hawkins then hits a 29-yard field goal to extend the Buckeyes' lead to six points.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 10 – Q3 14:21
Hoover hits sophomore wide receiver Davion Chandler for a first down but Chandler fumbles after 19 yards. Ohio State takes over on Indiana’s 45-yard line.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 10 – Q3 15:00
Ohio State kicks off to begin the second half. Indiana will start from the 25-yard line.
ANELA: Halftime takeaways
Indiana’s defensive line has disrupted Sayin’s timing, secondary has played well.
Sayin finished the first half 10 for 21 with 147 yards and a touchdown but missed numerous throws to receivers on the perimeter. The 6-foot-1 quarterback has been sacked twice and hurried once. Indiana also had four tackles for loss from its front. The Hoosiers’ secondary has four pass breakups too, holding Smith to two catches for 20 yards.
Special teams have been costly for the Hoosiers.
After a 12-play, 62-yard drive that lasted more than five minutes, Indiana failed to score as senior kicker Nico Radicic missed a 32-yard field goal off the left upright. During the next drive, Ohio State scored a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line. Even though the Hoosiers receive the ball to start the third quarter, that’s a massive momentum swing in the wrong direction.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 10 – END OF Q2
Indiana runs out the remaining clock and enters halftime with a three-point deficit.
Hoover is 6 of 15 passing with 77 yards in the first half. Richard scored the Hoosiers’ lone touchdown and finished the half with 10 carries for 27 yards. Becker leads Indiana with three catches for 37 yards. Sayin is 10 of 21 for 147 yards and a touchdown through the air. Jackson has controlled the Buckeyes’ backfield with 11 carries for 39 yards and added a receiving score. The Hoosiers limited Smith to just two catches for 20 yards in the first half.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 10 – Q2 0:07
Sayin connects with freshman wide receiver Chris Henry Jr. for a 30-yard completion, while an Indiana roughing the passer penalty moves the Buckeyes into the redzone. After being stopped from inside the Indiana 2-yard line on four consecutive plays, Ohio State finally scores with a 2-yard receiving touchdown from Jackson. Hawkins’ extra point is good.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 3 – Q2 2:00
Fifth-year defensive lineman Tobi Osunsanmi picks up his second sack of the day, as Ohio State faces second-and-20 from its own 47-yard line at the two-minute timeout. The Buckeyes picked up two third-down conversions to push into Indiana territory after going 0-for-3 in the first quarter.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 3 – Q2 5:11
Hoover completes three double-digit passes, including a 19-yard completion to Marsh to bring the Hoosiers into the redzone. But Hoover can’t connect with Richard on third-and-6. Radicic’s 32-yard field goal attempt hits off the left upright — his second miss this season.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 3 – Q2 10:49
Smith makes his first catch of the afternoon to move the chains on third-and-10. But the Hoosiers’ defense holds strong, forcing another Buckeye punt. Indiana will take over at its own 20-yard-line.
ANELA: Ferrell has been a game-changer for the Hoosiers.
Coming off a season-best nine tackles last game against Nebraska, the Lake City, Florida, native has been everywhere. The senior defensive back has two tackles, a sack and an interception against Sayin that led to an Indiana touchdown with 13:54 in the second quarter.
Indiana 7, Ohio State 3 – Q2 13:54
Taking over at the Ohio State 7-yard-line, the Hoosiers give Richard an inside handoff, who takes it seven yards into the endzone. Redshirt senior kicker Nico Radicic’s extra point is good.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q2 14:02
Sayin makes his first mistake of the game. Ferrell secures an interception at the Ohio State 30-yard-line and runs it 23 yards to the seven-yard-line.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q2 14:47
Hoover throws too high for Marsh on third and 11. The Hoosiers punt for a third consecutive drive, sending the ball 37 yards to the Ohio State 22-yard-line.
ANELA: Both quarterbacks haven’t looked comfortable yet.
Ohio State's junior Julian Sayin started for 4 for 5 with 67 yards but has yet to complete a pass in his last five attempts. With the Hoosiers mixing up their looks defensively, Sayin hasn’t targeted star junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith yet. Meanwhile, redshirt senior Josh Hoover has only three completions on eight attempts for 29 yards. After 187 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winner — last week, junior wide receiver Nick Marsh hasn't been targeted as well. Ohio State is winning the game in the trenches right now — the Buckeyes have two quarterback hurries and one tackle for loss.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – END OF Q1
Junior running back Turbo Richard is stuffed on consecutive rushes. It will be third-and-11 from the Hoosiers' 41-yard-line to begin the second quarter.
Hoover is 3-for-8 with 29 passing yards, while Sayin ended the quarter 4-for-10 with 67 yards. Richard has 14 rushing yards and Becker has 21 receiving yards. Ohio State sophomore running back Bo Jackson notched 28 yards while junior wide receiver Jeremiah Smith did not record a catch.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q1 3:59
Sayin is nearly intercepted by senior defensive back Amare Ferrell on second down. Ferrell breaks up the next pass on third down to force the Buckeyes to punt. Becker calls for a fair catch at the Hoosiers' 19-yard-line.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q1 5:57
Hoover can't connect with Becker on third-and-10. Indiana's drive ends with a punt after 3:40. Sophomore punter Billy Gowers sends it 25 yards to the Ohio State 20-yard-line.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q1 9:37
A holding penalty negates a 20-yard Ohio State rush on first down. The Buckeyes’ drive stalls with an incomplete deep ball from Sayin intended for senior wide receiver Brandon Inniss. Indiana will take over at its 22-yard-line.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 - Q1 11:01
Indiana redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover misses junior wide receiver Charlie Becker over the middle on third down. The Hoosiers go three-and-out on their first possession.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 3 – Q1 11:52
Ohio State strikes first. Junior quarterback Julian Sayin throws it away on third down in the red zone, but junior kicker Connor Hawkins hits a 26-yard field goal to give the Buckeyes a 3-0 lead.
Indiana 0, Ohio State 0 – Q1 15:00
Indiana redshirt senior kicker Paddy McAteer sends the opening kickoff into the end zone. Ohio State will begin its first possession from the 25-yard-line.
12:11 p.m.
The captains from both sides meet at midfield for the coin toss. Indiana wins the toss and elects to defer. Ohio State will receive the ball first.
12:10 p.m.
Indiana runs onto Merchants Bank Field with kickoff just over three minutes away.
11:59 a.m.
The pregame clock sits at 15:00 following the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner and a helicopter flyover.
11:42 a.m.
Indiana finishes its on-field warmups and heads to the locker room. The Marching Hundred begins to make its way onto the sideline for pregame rituals.
11:34 a.m.
Ohio State takes the field and huddles before beginning pregame warmups. Indiana’s defense is also warming up.
11:32 a.m.
The Indiana student section is full with just under 42 minutes remaining on the pregame clock.
11:11 a.m.
The in-stadium game clock reads 63 minutes until kickoff. Indiana’s offense takes the field for pregame stretches and warmups.
10:44 a.m.
The in-stadium game clock begins its countdown from 90 minutes to kickoff.
10:30 a.m.
The Memorial Stadium gates are open, and fans begin to find their seats ahead of the anticipated matchup.
Redshirt sophomore running back Khobie Martin is the lone Hoosier out for today’s matchup. He remains sidelined with an arm injury suffered in Week 1. Sophomore tight end Andrew Barker will play against the Buckeyes after being listed as questionable on the Big Ten Availability Report throughout the week. Barker missed Indiana’s Week 6 contest against Nebraska.
Ohio State has seven players listed as out, including starting running back Ja’Kobi Jackson and starting offensive lineman Austin Siereveld.
