Ohio State loses in a very familiar way

Second Quarter

Ohio State would lead 7-3 to start the second quarter and would get the ball back after IU missed a field goal that took the paint off the upright at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Bucks started the drive at their own 22, but a 52-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith would get them into the Red Zone. Ohio State would falter in the Red Zone and settle for a Jayden Fielding 30-yard field goal to make the game 10-3, Ohio State.

Indiana would respond with a strong drive, but once again be forced to settle for a field goal. Ohio State would lead 10-6 and have the ball with only a couple of minutes to go in the first half. The Buckeyes would stall and punt. The score at halftime would be Ohio State 10, Indiana 6.

Second Half

Both teams would start slow in the second half before Indiana would get a drive going. They would get a touchdown when the Buckeye defensive back failed to play the ball. The Bucks would trail for the first time this season in the second half, 13-10. Ohio State would go on a drive that would go for over 70 yards and over six minutes off the clock, but they would come away with no points.

The defense would stop IU near midfield, but they were worn out and in desperate need of the offense to help them out. No such luck. The Buckeyes would have three trips to the Red Zone and would come away with three points, two of them in the second half, which would give them nothing.

A Flop of Finish

Ohio State’s secondary would again give up a huge catch that would allow IU to punt it back to Ohio State with only 0:18 seconds left. There was no miracle for Ohio State at their own 14-yard line. The Buckeyes would lose by a score that has to be a knife in the gut of Ryan Day, 13-10. The offensive line allowing Sayin to be sacked five times ended his and Ohio State’s Heisman hopes and secured the trophy for Indiana’s quarterback. Like so many other things in this game, a huge moment of potential victory slipped through Ohio State’s fingers.

Next for Ohio State

Poor offense that particularly struggled in the Red Zone and underutilized a key offensive player. Add in awful special teams, a worn-out defense, and you get a 13-10 defeat for Ohio State. I’ve seen this movie before. Hopefully, it has the same final act. Ohio State will likely still get a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff and a chance to repeat what they did last year, as they, along with IU, Texas Tech, and Georgia, are likely to be the top four seeds. That would put the Bucks in the Orange or Cotton Bowl. We’ll find out about noon tomorrow.