No other group has actually dealt with the onslaught of tests No. 2 Ohio State has this season. On Saturday in the house, the Buckeyes will face their 3rd top-five challenger, handling unbeaten Indiana (10-0) in perhaps the most significant football video game in Hoosiers history.
Under first-year Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, No. 5 Indiana is off to the very best start in school history. With an explosive offense balancing 43.9 points, Indiana has actually controlled the majority of its challengers.
The Hoosiers have not dealt with a group of Ohio State’s quality. Indiana’s many significant wins have actually come versus Michigan (5-5) and Washington (4-4), groups that bear no similarity to the schools’ College Football Playoff groups from last season.
On the other hand, the Buckeyes lost at No. 1 Oregon 32-31 on Oct. 12 and have actually considering that outscored challengers 117-37– that stretch consists of a 20-13 roadway win over No. 4 Penn State. Thanks in big part to a defense that has actually permitted simply 10.3 points per video game, Ohio State leads the country in margin of success (27.5 ).
With a journey to the Big Ten Championship video game– and maybe the College Football Playoff– on the line, the stakes for the Buckeyes could not be greater. Their essential to a success will lie greatly on one significant aspect: defense.
Got ta struck the crowning achievement celly when you’re at Wrigley ⚾ @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/uP39vlIfbK
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 16, 2024
Versus Indiana’s high-powered offense– ranked 2nd in the country for scoring to Miami– protective organizer Jim Knowles need to keep his system sharp, beginning with cornerbacks Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun.
Ohio State’s corners have actually been irregular in man-to-man protection, and challengers have actually exposed this weak point in almost every video game considering that the loss to Oregon.
Ohio State boasts the country’s leading scoring defense, it ranks 6th in passing lawns enabled (160.1 YPG), a prospective Achilles’ heel versus Indiana’s high-powered offense. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke (71.8 conclusion portion) has actually played effectively and will likely take deep shots, screening Ohio State’s secondary with among the cleanest offenses in college football.
While Indiana’s offending line revealed some vulnerability under pressure from Michigan’s pass enter its last getaway, the Hoosiers enter this video game well-rested after a bye week. With time to charge and study movie, they’ll be gotten ready for the hard difficulty awaiting them in Columbus.
For Ohio State to keep Rourke in check, cornerbacks Burke and Igbinosun need to lock down Indiana’s death video game. If they can provide, in addition to protective playmakers Caleb Downs, (security), Sonny Styles (security) and Jack Sawyer (protective end) appearing huge, the defense might be the distinction in protecting a big win Saturday.