The matchup between No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers was billed as a can’t-miss game, and it lived up to the hype. Indiana had a chance to win with under two minutes left, and for a moment it seemed they had pulled it off. On fourth down, the Indiana quarterback tossed what looked like the game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Nick Marsh. However, junior Marsh stepped out of bounds in the end zone, and Ohio State got the ball back and ran out the clock for a 19-15 win. Football is truly a game of inches, and Indiana was inches away from staying unbeaten and continuing its 22-game winning streak.
Ohio State looked in trouble when quarterback Julian Sayin was knocked out of the game after going 15 of 29 for 235 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His backup, Luke Fahey, committed a costly intentional grounding penalty that gave the Hoosiers one final drive. However, the Buckeyes’ defense stepped up and bent without breaking on the final drive.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Heisman hopeful Jeremiah Smith caught what would become the game-winning touchdown pass from Sayin. It was a prayer of a pass from Sayin on fourth down, but Smith answered. Smith had a quiet day in his terms, catching just 4 passes for 68 yards and that touchdown, but he delivered when his team needed him most.
After that touchdown, Ohio State led 19-7, but Indiana marched down the field for their own touchdown. Hoover found Marsh for a 19-yard score, then found Turbo Richard for the two-point conversion, making it 19-15. However, Hoover and Marsh couldn’t deliver a last-second win for the home crowd.
Indiana faces Michigan next, then Minnesota, then No. 19 USC, before finishing the season with Washington and Purdue. They should still be in good shape to make the playoffs if they can win out, and based on their remaining opponents, that seems likely.
As for Ohio State, they play USC next week, then get Oregon, number 25 Northwestern, Nebraska, and finish their regular season off with a game against Michigan. With that schedule, they look like a lock for the postseason as long as they avoid an upset.
