Buckeyes Now

OSU Can Silence Schedule Concerns with Another Dominant Performance at Indiana

Lack of a Power 5 non-conference opponent is potential issue
Bruce Hooley|
OSU Can Silence Schedule Concerns with Another Dominant Performance at Indiana
OSU Can Silence Schedule Concerns with Another Dominant Performance at Indiana

It's not a problem now and it might not become one at all.

But it might, and that is the problem.

While Ohio State's noon Saturday kickoff at Indiana is the Big Ten opener for both teams, it's never too early to start obsessing about the College Football Playoff and whether the Buckeyes will get in.

You say, "Of course, they will, if they just win the conference and go undefeated."

And you're right, but those two things aren't mutually exclusive.

It's possible to win the Big Ten, not be undefeated and not get into the Playoff.

OSU did that just last year, and it's certainly not eager to repeat that disappointment.

So, first and foremost, no Trap-Game meltdowns like at Iowa in 2017 or Purdue in 2018.

That's where the Hoosiers come in, although it's premature to label them capable of trap-dooring the Buckeyes, particularly since IU quarterback Michael Penix will be a game-time decision because of an ankle injury.

If Penix can't go, Peyton Ramsey will QB Indiana. He's accurate and has had some past success against OSU, but Ramsey isn't mobile and likely will eventually get swarmed under by Chase Young and Company.

So, given the victory in Bloomington is almost assured, what else lurks on the horizon that might derail the Ryan Day Train?

Well, next week it's Miami of Ohio in the Horseshoe, so no problem there, but the Red Hawks do present a possible dilemma in that they will complete a non-conference lineup that also included Florida Atlantic and Cincinnati.

Notice there's no Texas, no Notre Dame, no Oregon, even no Big 12, Pacific 12 or ACC bottom-feeder that Ohio State could pummel and plead, "Hey, when we scheduled them, they were good...or we thought they would be by now."

You know how this works, right?

It's a lot like the NFL Draft, where a prospect can run a 4.3 and bench-press his college library 50 times but scouts will obsess about the mole on his calf muscle.

OSU wants no blemishes for selectors to even consider.

The lack of a Power 5 non-conference win won't be an issue until the Buckeyes make it one, either by struggling to dispatch an overmatched opponent, or by face-planting like occurred at Iowa and Purdue.

OSU's defense appears invulnerable to that so far, but Indiana will have slightly-better athletes and a bit more team speed than UC did last week in a 42-0 loss to the Buckeyes.

And, of course, the game is in Bloomington where Ohio State has struggled to get going in recent years.

That hasn't been the case this year because of the tone set by quarterback Justin Fields, who will be making the first road start of his college career.

"He should have confidence," Day said. "He's played well the first two games."

Fields had OSU in front of FAU, 28-0, in the first quarter and ahead of UC, 28-0, by halftime.

Ohio State hasn't lost to Indiana since 1988, which means no Hoosiers player on the roster has been alive for an IU win over Ohio State.

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Bruce Hooley
BRUCE HOOLEY

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