(Photo: Cosm)
Campus Clash
(4) Ohio State Buckeyes at (5) Indiana Hoosiers
Ohio State (5-1):
There’s no excuse for Ohio State not to win the Big Ten, but stranger things have happened. I still remember when they were considered a shoo-in to win it last year, but look what happened. I’m just happy they passed the quiz on Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins and didn’t overlook the opponent in front of them, as I always find myself warning against. Teams have a tendency to do that, which is why I continue to bring it up. I have to be honest: Saturday was their most impressive win of the season, and of course, I’ll explain what I mean. They were dominant against Maryland at the Shoe, but what stood out to me was the fact that they still put up 45 points without Jeremiah Smith having a monster game. He finished with 93 yards and two touchdowns, which seems rather pedestrian by his standards, but as long as the team is winning, he couldn’t care less. This Buckeyes team is currently riding a four-game winning streak and boasts an explosive offense. Of course, it begins with Jeremiah, who has become a matchup nightmare and given Ohio State a productive weapon even when the rest of the offense isn’t perfect. Julian Sayin continues to show why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in America, operating efficiently within this productive offense. My biggest takeaway, however, is that they’ve been playing with balance by establishing the run. Against Maryland, the Buckeyes rushed for 207 yards as a team. On the other side of the ball, their defense has limited explosive plays from opponents. That early defensive control helps them establish leads and dictate the flow of the game. This Saturday, they make their way to the home of the defending champions.
Indiana (6-0):
This is still a good football team, and although you may not hear much about them, I think they prefer it that way. This is one of those instances where they’d rather make people talk about them through their performance than complain about not receiving enough attention. Like many teams, Indiana lost its share of players from the group that won the national championship. However, in my eyes, we’re seeing just how good of a coach Curt Cignetti is. The Hoosiers have carried their championship-level momentum into this season and currently have a 22-game winning streak dating back to last season. When I made my weekly appearance on College Football Showdown this past Friday, their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers was one of the matchups we discussed. I mentioned that it would be much tighter than many expected because, when you’re the defending champion, you enter every game with a bullseye on your back. You’ll get everyone’s best effort, and that’s exactly what we saw in Lincoln in Week 6. At one point, Nebraska held an 11-point lead before Indiana rallied to take control. This season, the Indiana Hoosiers have scored at a high level, averaging 40 points per game while allowing only 11 points per game on defense. I appreciate the fact that they’ve learned how to win football games even when the offense struggles to get much of anything going. Josh Hoover has been phenomenal leading this offense, and he’s able to create explosive passing plays. The two areas they need to improve are their running game and third-down offense. They return home this Saturday for a showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State X-Factor: Eddrick Houston
He is a former five-star recruit who plays the important three-technique defensive tackle position. He’s beginning to trend in the right direction after a slow start to the season. Eddric recorded only three tackles in Ohio State’s first four games, but he’s started to improve, recording four tackles against Iowa and another four this past Saturday against Maryland. Eddrick’s job against the Hoosiers is simple: attack the gaps, force Hoover to throw before he wants to, and push the pocket inward. His presence can force hurried throws and disrupt Indiana’s timing. That interior push can also allow the Buckeyes’ edge rushers to get home.
Indiana X-Factor: Nick Marsh
Outside of Charlie Becker, he has become another weapon for Josh Hoover and has produced well in this offense. Nick Marsh is a wide receiver who transferred to Indiana from Michigan State, bringing Big Ten experience and the ability to stretch the field vertically. At 6-foot-3, he’s a big-bodied receiver with the speed to hurt a secondary, making him valuable on deep passes and in contested-catch situations. Ohio State may elect to play him in single coverage or provide safety help over the top. Either approach could open up opportunities for the Hoosiers’ other receivers. If Nick can get at least six to eight targets, he could help keep Indiana in the game.
Final Thoughts:
When these two teams last met, it was on Championship Saturday in December, when they faced off for the Big Ten title at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Both teams entered as the top two ranked programs in the College Football Playoff rankings, and Indiana wasn’t given much of a chance against Ohio State’s vaunted defense. However, Indiana did what few other teams could do against the Buckeyes last year: match their physicality and hand them their first loss of the season. Indiana would go on to clinch the No. 1 seed in the playoffs and win the national championship. Now, we have the last two national champions set to battle. The first order of business for Ohio State is to get Jeremiah Smith involved early and often, but without forcing the issue. Find ways to get him touches while making Indiana defend the width and depth of the field. Continue to establish Bo Jackson and the running game because balance is your friend. Lean on it, and good things should continue to happen. Most importantly, keep Julian Sayin protected. Indiana’s defensive front will look to generate pressure, so the Buckeyes need clean pockets, an efficient early-down passing attack, and, of course, explosive plays. Indiana, meanwhile, must win the situational football battle. That means finishing drives in the red zone, avoiding penalties, and capitalizing on special-teams opportunities. The Hoosiers must also create explosive plays and take advantage of aggressive coverage. Don’t rely exclusively on long drives; create some magic downfield. Defensively, Indiana must make life uncomfortable for Sayin. The Hoosiers can’t allow him to sit comfortably in the pocket, which means their defensive front must generate pressure while the secondary maintains discipline in coverage. This should be a fun one in Bloomington.
