Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
TV/Radio: FOX/1410
Series history: Ohio State leads 75-12-5, including a 38-10 win in 2010 that was vacated due to NCAA infractions. The Buckeyes last lost to the Hoosiers in 1988 and have more wins against Indiana than any other school (Illinois is second at 69). Ohio State is 27-2-1 in Bloomington. IU is Ohio State's second-oldest active series behind Michigan.
Last game: Dwayne Haskins threw for 455 yards as Ohio State won 49-26 at Ohio Stadium last season.
Coaches: Ohio State's Ryan Day is 5-0, including a 3-0 mark last season as interim coach of the Buckeyes. He is 1-0 against the Big Ten, having coached a win over Rutgers last season. Indiana's Tom Allen is 12-15 in his third year at the helm of the Hoosiers.
RELATED: Day explains how the Buckeyes avoid a letdown this week
Ohio State notes: The Buckeyes have the second-longest active winning streak in the nation at eight games, trailing only defending national champion Clemson (17)… They have scored 28 points in the first half of each of their games this season… Chase Young is tied for seventh nationally with three sacks… Day is the fourth person to win his first five games as head coach at Ohio State, joining Urban Meyer, Earle Bruce and Carroll Widdoes… Ohio State has five players from Indiana: receiver Austin Mack (Fort Wayne Bishop Luers), linebacker Pete Werner (Indianapolis Cathedral), linebacker Craig Young (Fort Wayne), offensive lineman Dawand Jones (Indianapolis Ben Davis), punter Drue Chrisman (Lawrenceburg/Cincinnati LaSalle).
Indiana notes: The Hoosiers are eighth in the nation in passing yards (383.5 per game) but just 95th in rushing (131)… They are No. 1 in sacks allowed… The Hoosiers have averaged 371 yards passing per game against Ohio State in the past two meetings… The Indiana roster includes three local players among eight Ohioans: fifth-year senior offensive lineman Simon Stepaniak (Ross), senior cornerback A'Shon Riggins (Hamilton) and freshman offensive lineman Luke Lane (Lebanon). The other Ohioans are quarterback Peyton Ramsey (Cincinnati Elder), running back Cole Gest (Lakewood St. Edward), sophomore offensive lineman Dominic Altimari (Cincinnati St. Xavier) freshman long snapper Sean Wracher (Cleveland St. Ignatius) and fifth-year senior offensive lineman Hunter Littlejohn (Powell Olentangy Liberty).
RELATED: Buckeyes preparing for two IU quarterbacks
Quoted: Allen on telling his team this is the most important game of the season: "Yes, this is obviously a huge game for us because it's the first conference game, it's a home game, and it's the Ohio State Buckeyes. At the same time, you can't make it bigger than it is, but there's no question there's a heightened sense of intensity and focus and urgency that's created because of who it is and the fact that it's a conference game."
Next game: The Buckeyes play host to Miami University at 3:30 next Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium. Indiana will be home again against Connecticut.
Prediction: Ohio State 38, Indiana 3
About the Author
