It was a challenging evening for the fifth-ranked Indiana Hoosiers as they faced their toughest test of the season in Columbus. The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes dominated, delivering a decisive 38-15 victory that may have derailed Indiana’s College Football Playoff aspirations.
The Hoosiers came out strong, forcing a three-and-out on Ohio State’s opening possession and quickly capitalizing with a touchdown to take an early lead. Momentum seemed to favour Indiana as the Buckeyes’ second drive stalled after a 15-play effort ended in a turnover on downs.
But the Hoosiers couldn’t maintain their advantage. After a stalled drive, Indiana punted, only to see Ohio State respond with a touchdown. Turnovers plagued both teams before a botched punt snap by Indiana set up the Buckeyes deep in Hoosier territory. Three plays later, Ohio State entered the locker room with a 14-7 lead.
The second half was all Buckeyes. Caleb Downs electrified the crowd by returning Indiana’s opening punt of the third quarter for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7. From there, Ohio State’s offense piled on, with quarterback Will Howard completing 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Star wideout Emeka Egbuka, who hauled in seven receptions for 80 yards, found the end zone in the second quarter and provided a consistent spark.
Meanwhile, the Hoosiers’ offense sputtered. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke struggled, completing just 8 of 18 passes for 68 yards. Indiana’s rushing duo of Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison combined for 141 yards, with Lawton scoring both of the team’s touchdowns. However, after their opening drive, the Hoosiers failed to score on eight consecutive possessions, only finding the end zone again in garbage time.
With the loss, Indiana falls to 10-1, jeopardizing its playoff hopes. A blowout defeat to a top team like Ohio State could hurt its résumé, though the Hoosiers may catch a break after No. 9 Ole Miss suffered an upset loss to Florida on the same day. Indiana will need a strong showing in its season finale against Purdue and some help from other teams to remain in the playoff conversation.
Ohio State, now 10-1, continues to build its case for a playoff spot. Their lone blemish remains a narrow 32-31 loss to No. 1 Oregon in October. The Buckeyes will turn their attention to next week’s rivalry showdown against Michigan, a defending champion now enduring a disappointing 5-5 season.
For Indiana, the journey to Columbus marked a harsh reality check, and their postseason destiny is no longer entirely in their hands. As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes are proving once again why they remain a perennial powerhouse.
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