It’s a top five matchup. ESPN’s College GameDay and Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff will both host their respective pregame shows from just outside of Ohio Stadium. Big Ten Championship Game and College Football Playoff chances loom large.
Indiana football’s matchup with Ohio State at noon Saturday inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, will be arguably the biggest game in program history.
The Hoosiers, who enter the contest at 10-0 for the first time ever, haven’t beaten the Buckeyes inside “The Shoe” since 1987 –– a day then-Ohio State head coach Earl Bruce deemed the darkest day in Ohio State football history since he became associated with it in 1949.
Despite the obvious magnitude of the game, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti doesn’t view it exactly the same. He said Monday that it’s a big game for the Hoosiers because it’s the next game.
Indiana is coming off its second and final bye week of the regular season after defeating Michigan 20-15 on Nov. 9.
“I think the off week came at a great time because it was a physical football game,” Cignetti said. “We've played a number of games in a row. It was good for everybody to catch a breather and get refreshed and recharged and gave us a little extra time on the next opponent.”
On Ohio State
Ohio State enters Saturday at 9-1, with its only loss coming to Oregon on Oct. 12 at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. The Buckeyes are coming off a 31-7 victory over Northwestern on Nov. 16.
After Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse University in the offseason, graduate student quarterback Will Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State University. Howard has completed 72.9% of his passes thus far, tossing 24 touchdowns to just five interceptions.
While Howard has cemented himself as one of the top signal callers in the Big Ten, he hasn’t done so without the help of the Buckeyes’ stellar group of skill position players.
“Yeah, very skilled at the skill positions, and the offensive line is good,” Cignetti said. “Obviously everybody knows about the running backs, receivers, quarterback, tight ends.”
Ohio State’s running back duo, comprised of senior TreVeyon Henderson and junior Quinshon Judkins, has combined for 13 rushing touchdowns. Judkins, a transfer from the University of Mississippi has racked up 723 rushing yards while Henderson has 662.
Freshman Jeremiah Smith spearheads the Buckeyes’ group of wide receivers with 856 yards and nine touchdowns while senior Emeka Egbuka trails close behind with 612 yards and eight touchdowns.
While Ohio State’s offense typically flourishes, it’s done so this season with former NFL and collegiate head coach Chip Kelly at the helm. Kelly, who was previously the head coach at UCLA from 2018-23, was hired as the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator during the offseason.
“Chip Kelly has done a great job offensively everywhere he's been,” Cignetti said. “They've got an excellent scheme. It puts defenses in conflict.”
Not only does Ohio State possess a potent offense, but perhaps its defense is even more dominant. The Buckeyes are tied with No. 19 Army West Point for fewest points allowed per game in the nation this season with 10.3. They’ve allowed the second-fewest yards per game (250.8) behind only the No. 3 University of Texas at Austin.
“They have it all,” Cignetti said. “They really do.”
Inversely, the Hoosiers’ offense has cemented itself as one of, if not, the best in the Big Ten. Indiana leads the conference in points per game (43.9) and differential (30.1) while sitting second in total yards per game (453.2).
Sixth-year senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke has guided Indiana to its dominant offensive season with 2,410 passing yards alongside 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He said Tuesday that he is nearing full health after suffering a thumb injury against Nebraska on Oct. 19.
“I feel really good,” Rourke said. “I mean that was one of my things I was looking forward to most for the bye week was to be able to let my thumb heal up and not beat it up and not have to throw five, six days a week. So, really excited and happy with the progress made and I'm feeling pretty close to 100%.”
Kickoff
The Hoosiers aren’t backing down from the challenge the Buckeyes present. They’re treating it the same way they’ve treated the previous 10 games this season.
“They've got some good players,” Rourke said. “They run a good scheme. They're well coached. Got a good amount of talent, but, excited to get after them, and it'll be a good game.”
Kickoff is slated for noon Saturday inside Ohio Stadium in Columbus. Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft will be on the call for Fox.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
