Over the past two weeks, the national media suggested Indiana football isn’t the fifth-best team in the country.
No. 5 Indiana entered its matchup Saturday against No. 2 Ohio State with an opportunity to make history, notch its first marquee win of the season over a national powerhouse and cement itself into the College Football Playoff field.
However, after forcing the Buckeyes into an opening-drive three-and-out and marching down the field to take an early 7-0 lead, the Hoosiers failed to do so. Ohio State scored 24 unanswered points, handling Indiana 38-15 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Seventh-year senior running back Ty Son Lawton scored Indiana’s first touchdown of the day with his 2-yard score over halfway into the opening quarter.
On the Buckeyes’ ensuing drive, they faced 3rd and 35 and gained 49 yards over the next two downs. The Hoosiers held serve at the goal line to regain possession and maintain their lead.
Over Indiana’s final three offensive possessions of the first half — excluding the kneel down to end the half — it gained minus three yards as Ohio State scored its first touchdown of the game to tie the contest at 7.
As the Hoosiers prepared to punt the ball to the Buckeyes with just over a minute and a half left in the first half, senior punter James Evans failed to control the snap. The mistake allowed Ohio State to seize control of the game as it scored a touchdown to go up 14-7 entering halftime.
Despite receiving the ball to open the second half, Indiana went three-and-out. Evans punted to Ohio State sophomore safety Caleb Downs, who returned it for a 79-yard touchdown. The play marked Indiana’s first punt return touchdown allowed since 2021 and Ohio State’s first since 2014.
Over the course of the second half, the Hoosiers largely failed to contain the Buckeyes while also struggling to build any significant offensive momentum.
Indiana managed to score its first touchdown since its opening drive with Lawton’s 2-yard score with just under two minutes left in the game. The Hoosiers succeeded on the two-point conversion to pull to within two possessions of the Buckeyes, but Ohio State graduate student quarterback Will Howard ran for a 1-yard touchdown with just over 30 seconds left to seal the contest.
The loss marks Indiana’s first under head coach Curt Cignetti. The Hoosiers were in unfamiliar territory Saturday as the contest held significant weight in the College Football Playoff discussion.
While the CFP selection committee previously viewed Indiana as a legitimate top team, Saturday’s result could alter its view on the Hoosiers. Now with just one game remaining in the regular season — the Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue on Nov. 30 — the Hoosiers squandered their opportunity at a statement victory over the Buckeyes.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
