COLUMBUS, Ohio — Between the third and fourth quarters Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium, “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers blared over the loudspeakers.
IU football players and coaches undoubtedly heard the tune through their headsets and helmets, but one verse in particular should have stood out to them.
“I just can’t look, it’s killing me.”
No seven words could have better described IU’s offensive performance in the final three minutes of the third quarter against No. 3 Ohio State.
The Hoosiers had battled valiantly during the first half of the game, twice taking the lead against the Buckeyes in the first and second quarters.
But as was always going to be the case, Ohio State began to take control of the game and led 35-26 late in the third quarter.
As Coach Tom Allen described it, IU was presented with “a window of opportunity,” which he said happens in every game, to make a game-changing play.
You can probably assume what happened next.
IU got the ball at midfield with 2:58 left in the quarter after redshirt freshman defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald intercepted Ohio State sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins.
An 11-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Peyton Ramsey to sophomore wide receiver Ty Fryfogle was followed by three straight incompletions. Left in limbo at the Ohio State 38-yard line, IU failed to either connect on a big play or gain enough yardage for a long-distance field goal attempt.
It took less than 45 seconds, but the Hoosiers had punted the ball back to the Buckeyes.
At least IU downed the ball at Ohio State's four-yard line.
An IU defense that was shredded by Haskins for more than 450 yards passing and six passing touchdowns in the game responded to the special teams play by producing its best series of the game.
The Buckeyes lost two yards on three plays, shanked a punt from their own end zone and basically spoon-fed the Hoosiers points by giving them the football at the Buckeye 33-yard line.
What followed was offensive inefficiency.
Ramsey threw three incompletions to three different IU receivers, but junior kicker Logan Justus had the chance to convert the longest field goal of his IU career from 51 yards out.
The kick wasn’t close, fluttering harmlessly to the right of the goalposts and ending a possession that lasted just 21 seconds.
Ohio State showed its ruthlessness after gaining possession. The Buckeyes marched down the field and put the game out of reach by scoring a touchdown to go up 42-26.
“We just couldn’t take advantage of it,” Allen said of his team’s inability to score in these situations. “There’s no shame in our guys and what they were trying to do.”
Allen is correct when he said the Hoosiers had to fight like crazy to even be in that position. They did, and for longer periods than expected against the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers played high-level, intelligent and even risk-taking football.
But for 64 combined seconds at the end of the third quarter, IU reverted back to its old self — aimlessly running plays without a desired result in mind, just hoping something would work.
I just couldn’t look. It was killing me.
@cdrummond97
cpdrummo@iu.edu
