Hopefully, you’ll be able to see No. 3 Ohio State take on Indiana on TV on Saturday, when the Big Ten on CBS era officially begins. It also heralds the beginning of a new era for the Buckeyes. C.J. Stroud, a former Heisman Trophy contender, has left for the NFL, and former wide receivers coach Brian Hartline has been appointed to offensive coordinator.
It’s also the Buckeyes’ second consecutive season without the title of reigning Big Ten champion, despite reaching the College Football Playoff and almost knocking out the eventual winner Georgia Bulldogs in the quarterfinals. But nearly winning has never been Ohio State’s game plan, and it won’t be this season.
While the Buckeyes want to reclaim the Big Ten and national championships, Indiana hopes to start the year with a boom and stun the world.
What you need to know about Ohio State vs. Indiana.
Ohio State’s quarterback competition has yet to be resolved: Kyle McCord has been selected the starter for this game but has yet to be declared the full-time starter. Devin Brown, with whom McCord has been competing all winter, will also play. What we don’t know is how this will all come together. Does Ryan Day want to go series by series? Quarter after quarter? Will he take the hot hand? We’ll find out on Saturday, but it’s evident that neither could separate throughout camp, so the Buckeyes will have to depend on game action to determine. On the one hand, Ohio State is a big favourite, and this is a strategy that it can definitely pull off. On the other hand, it’s likely that the Buckeyes may struggle to develop a rhythm, giving the Hoosiers a chance to pull off the shock.
Since 2021, Indiana has gone 2-16 in Big Ten play: If Indiana pulls off the upset, it would not only be a rarity in the series (more on that later), but it will also be something unusual for the Hoosiers in Big Ten play. Following a surprise good season in the abbreviated 2020 season, the Hoosiers fell 0-9 in conference play in 2021. Last year, they started the season with a home victory against Illinois and then won in double OT on the road against Michigan State. In their seven Big Ten defeats, they were outscored 259-125.
Ohio State has won 27 consecutive games: Believe me, Indiana will not cry if the Big Ten eliminates divisions next year. Since the league broke into geographical divisions, the Hoosiers have shared the East with the Buckeyes, and it has not gone well. Not only have they lost every game since, but Indiana hasn’t defeated Ohio State since a 41-7 victory in 1988. The Buckeyes have now won 27 consecutive games. I’m not sure which is more shocking: that it’s been 35 years or that the Hoosiers won by 34 points! I would have anticipated that to be a one-time occurrence!
Picks and predictions for Ohio State vs. Indiana
SportsLine consensus odds
Given the enigma surrounding Ohio State’s quarterback competition, it’s difficult to generate strong opinions on anything. But if it’s a legitimate competition, and both players have an equal chance, I like the over. If McCord was the undisputed starter and Ohio State gained a large lead, the Buckeyes could send out the backups to run out the clock and safely return home. However, with both Brown and McCord battling for playing time, the Buckeyes will keep their starters in as long as possible and enable both players to participate. After all, you can’t learn about either by passing it back and forth. The Buckeyes might end up with at least 50 points.
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