No. 5 Ohio State can avenge last year's Big Ten Championship loss during its road matchup against No. 4 Indiana on Oct. 17.
The Buckeyes fell 13-10 to the Hoosiers in the conference title game, the first of back-to-back playoff losses at the end of last season. The only other time Ohio State faced a Curt Cignetti-led Indiana in 2024, the Buckeyes won 38-15 at Ohi Stadium.
Here is how Ohio State and Indiana match up for their upcoming meeting:
Ohio State pass offense vs Indiana pass defense
With running back Ja'Kobi Jackson ruled out for the game, Ohio State will likely lean even more on its passing, which ranks first in the Big Ten in yards (2,027) and touchdowns (20). Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith could extend his streak of scoring two or more touchdowns to four games in Indiana, while quarterback
Julian Sayin is looking to redeem himself from the Big Ten title game last season.
Sayin threw for 258 yards and a touchdown his first time facing Indiana, but also had an interception during the Buckeyes' opening drive. In a 45-16win over Maryland last week, he recording 242 passing yards, four touchdowns and two turnovers.
The Sayin-Smith duo will be the Buckeyes' strongest asset against an Indiana defense that has allowed its Big Ten opponents to throw for an average 188.5 yards this season.
However, Sayin can only make an impact if he stays on his feet, a challenge made more difficult as Ohio State will also be without veteran starting offensive lineman Austin Siereveld. Indiana's 20 sacks are the third-most in the nation through six games. Last season, Indiana's defensive line, which returned all its starters, brought down Sayin five times.
Edge: Ohio State
Ohio State rush offense vs Indiana rush defense
Ja'Kobi Jackson's absence leaves Bo Jacksonas Ohio State's only running back option with 100 yards this season. Though Ja'Kobi Jackson has a team-leading six rushing touchdowns this season, Bo Jackson leads the Buckeyes in rushing yards (460) and carries (89).
Bo Jackson's 107-yard performance against Maryland featured a 25-yard touchdown run, marking the Buckeyes first 20-yard rushing play since their season-opening 56-3 win over Ball State on Sept. 5.
Bo Jackson will take on a majority of the load against the top-ranked rushing defense Ohio State faces this season. The Hoosiers have held opponents to an average of 75 rushing yards this season, the seventh-fewest in the nation. Three of Indiana's starting defensive linemen have at least four tackles for loss, and linebackers Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy have a combined 50 tackles.
Edge: Indiana
Ohio State pass defense vs Indiana pass offense
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover is one of two quarterbacks in the nation, along with Darian Mensah from Miami, who have thrown at least 15 touchdown passes with no interceptions. The TCU transfer is tied with Sayin for a Big Ten-leading 17 touchdowns, but his 1,364 passing yards ranks just eighth in the conference.
Hoover's primary targets Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, have a matching 529 receiving yards. Both are averaging more than 17 yards per catch and 24 yards after catch per game.
Ohio State's secondary struggled to contain big passing plays in a 31-14 win over Iowa on Oct. 3, allowing the Hawkeyes to finish with seven passes for over 15 yards. But the Buckeyes were more efficient in their pass defense against Maryland, with the Terrapins' longest pass play going for 12 yards, and they give up just 4.8 yards per catch, the lowest in the Big Ten.
Edge: Even
Ohio State rush defense vs Indiana rush offense
After conceding 199 rushing yards against Illinois, the Buckeyes limited their next two opponents to a combined 121 yards on the ground. Iowa and Maryland combined for just three run plays of more than 10 yards, averaging just 2.5 yards per carry.
Indiana has 1,328 rushing yards this season, with running backs Turbo Richards and Lee Beebee Jr. both hitting the 500-yard mark. But the Hoosiers showed they could be stopped on the ground against Nebraska last week, rushing for just 65 yards on 22 carries.
Ohio State's main focus is containing the big plays that make up a key part of Indiana's offense, as 20 of its runs this season have gone for more than 15 yards.
Edge: Ohio State
Special teams
Ohio State's special teams production has been a glaring issue this season.
The Buckeyes typically gain less than 9 yards on kickoff and punt returns, registering their first significant return off a 31-yard run against Maryland. As the offense on special teams took a step forward, the defense took one back, as Ohio State was charged with two special teams penalties, including a call for running into Maryland's punter.
Ohio State kicker Connor Hawkins is 6 for 8 for field goals this season, missing 40-plus-yard attempts against Texas and Iowa. Indiana kicker Nico Radcici is 7 for 8, with his lone miss coming from 22 yards.
Edge: Indiana
bmackay@dispatch.com
@brimackay15
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How does No. 5 Ohio State match up vs No. 4 Indiana?
