This year at LGHL, the day before Ohio State games we are trying something a little different. “3 & Out” is going to inform you on the upcoming opponent for the Buckeyes. By the name, you probably could tell we are going to handle things in threes.
Along with highlighting three key players from Ohio State’s opponents, we will shed some light on three things the Buckeyes have to be wary of, and close things out by having a little fun by mentioning three notable alumni or facts from the school that’ll
be matching up with Ohio State.
First Down
Players to watch for Indiana
1) Fernando Mendoza
Much like Julian Sayin is for Ohio State, the maestro of the Indiana offense is quarterback Fernando Mendoza. While Sayin has thrown for a little more yardage, Mendoza leads the country with 32 touchdown passes entering this week’s game.
The Cal transfer has been even better for the Hoosiers than Kurtis Rourke was last season, which is saying a lot after Rourke led Indiana to an 11-1 record in the regular season and a spot in the College Football Playoff.
With plenty of starting experience before arriving in Bloomington this season, it’s going to be hard to rattle Mendoza. Just look at how he performed last month at Penn State when he engineered a comeback late in the fourth quarter, making some ridiculous throws against the Nittany Lion defense.
Add in the Heisman Trophy possibly going to whichever quarterback in this game leads their team to victory and it’s a recipe for a spirited performance from the Indiana quarterback.
2) Roman Hemby
Joining Mendoza in the Indiana backfield is Maryland transfer running back Roman Hemby. What makes Hemby so difficult to defend is he hurts opponents in a number of ways. Hemby is one of just two active FBS players to record 3,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in their career.
This season Hemby hasn’t had to do quite as much in the pass game since Mendoza has been clicking with receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr.
With Ohio State’s defense being the best unit the Hoosiers have faced this year, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Indiana try and get Hemby in space with some screen passes to try and keep the Buckeye defense from pinning their ears back and rushing Mendoza.
Since Ohio State has an outstanding secondary, Mendoza might need to look to some unconventional options aside from Sarratt and Cooper. Hemby fits that bill since he has only caught 13 passes this season, but has a track record of being a versatile back.
3) D’Angelo Ponds/Jamari Sharpe
For the third key player for the Hoosiers, we had to go with a pair of cornerbacks since they’ll both have their hands full trying to slow down Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. D’Angelo Ponds had a breakout season in 2024 when he was named first team All-Big Ten and second team All-American.
This year teams have looked away from Ponds since they know just how good he is in coverage. In 2025, Ponds has 38 tackles and an interception.
At the other cornerback spot is Jamari Sharpe, who has 24 starts in his career. While Sharpe hasn’t picked off a pass this season, he has shown an incredible knack at jarring the football loose from opponents, forcing four fumbles.
It will be interesting to see if both corners are ready for the bright lights they’ll see in Indianapolis on Saturday night, especially after getting a taste of what it takes to try and slow down Smith and Tate last year in Columbus.
Second Down
What Ohio State has to be wary of
1) Forget about last week
The win over Michigan was definitely cathartic but it’s in the past now. The Buckeyes are facing a whole different animal on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Even though the Wolverines had hopes of making the College Football Playoff, Indiana is a contender to win it all.
Unlike Michigan, the Hoosiers are loaded with weapons on offense who can push the Ohio State defense. Fernando Mendoza is a Heisman Trophy contender with two outstanding wide receivers at his disposal. Roman Hemby leads a trio of running backs who can lean on opposing defenses, and Curt Cignetti will have his team playing with no fear.
If the Buckeyes don’t come out sharp, the Hoosiers can make them pay. Just look at what Indiana has done this year. Not only have the Hoosiers won four Big Ten games by at least 45 points, they also have one of the best wins in college football this year, going out to Oregon and beating the Ducks in Eugene.
This will undoubtedly be Ohio State’s toughest game of the season so far.
2) Throw out the record books
Ohio State hasn’t lost to Indiana since 1988. This isn’t the same Hoosiers team you’re used to seeing over the years, though. Curt Cignetti has changed the culture in just two years in Bloomington.
If anyone had told you Cignetti would have Indiana in the College Football Playoff in his first two seasons on the job you would have thought they were on drugs.
Just because the Buckeyes beat Indiana 38-15 in Columbus last year isn’t a reason to take the Hoosiers lightly. Fernando Mendoza is even more dangerous than Kurtis Rourke was, and Cignetti has had another year to instill his style of play at Indiana. This year’s game should be a lot closer than what we saw just over a year ago.
3) Enjoy the awards after the season
The Ohio State defense has to be riding high after a number of players were honored earlier this week. Caleb Downs was named Big Ten Defensive Player and Defensive Back of the Year. Kayden McDonald is the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year, and Arvell Reese is Big Ten Linebacker of the Year. These awards are definitely well deserved after seeing what those players were able to do on the field all season long.
As accomplished as these players feel for having their play recognized as the best in the conference, it means nothing on Saturday night. The Buckeyes haven’t faced an attack as formidable as what they’ll see from Indiana.
We’ve seen performances from players dip in the past after receiving awards and that is something that can’t happen against the Hoosiers or Mendoza and company will make them pay since Indiana is taking no prisoners this year.
Third Down
Ohio State/Indiana connections
1) Zen Michalski
The former Ohio State offensive lineman hit the transfer portal after last season and decided Indiana was the best spot for him to close out his college career. Michalski started the Nebraska game last year after Josh Simmons was hurt against Oregon, but things didn’t go well before he was injured in the game.
A couple days after the Rose Bowl Michalski announced he was leaving Columbus for Bloomington.
The move to Indiana made sense since Michalski grew up in the southeast part of the state. So far this season Michalski has played in 12 games for the Hoosiers, starting three contests. While it remains to be seen how much time he’ll see on the field on Saturday night, Cignetti will likely look to the former Buckeye for some insider info on some of the tendencies they might see from Ryan Day and Ohio State.
2) Matt Guerrieri
The current Ohio State safeties coach spent the 2023 season at Indiana as their co-defensive coordinator. Guerrieri actually was a senior advisor for the Buckeyes in 2022 before Tom Allen lured him to Bloomington to join his staff for a year before Allen was fired. With Cignetti bringing in his own staff, Guerrieri’s services weren’t needed in Bloomington, allowing him to return to Ohio State.
In his two years at safeties coach at Ohio State, Guerrieri has had the luxury of working with the likes of Caleb Downs, Lathan Ransom, and Jaylen McClain. Heading into this week’s game, Guerrieri is going to have to continue to put in work to try and slow down an Indiana passing attack that has been one of the tops in the country this season.
3) Kevin Wilson
Not only was Kevin Wilson the head coach at Indiana, he also spent time at Ohio State as the offensive coordinator. In six years in Bloomington, Wilson was 26-47 but the Hoosiers showed progress in his final two seasons at the school, winning six games in each of those years. Unfortunately for Wilson he resigned after accusations by some players of mistreatment.
Just a month after leaving Indiana, Wilson was hired by Urban Meyer to be the team’s offensive coordinator ahead of the 2017 season. Wilson was with Ohio State until after the 2022 season when he was named the head coach at Tulsa. After two years at Tulsa, Wilson was fired and now is currently an offensive assistant at Oklahoma.
& Out
Prediction: 30-20, Ohio State
Go Bucks!
