Ryan Day and Ohio state snapped Indiana’s 22-game win streak in dramatic fashion today, as Indiana’s final offensive possession ended in heartbreak. Facing a fourth and four, Hoover found a wide open Marsh in the end zone, but Marsh’s foot was out of bounds, ending the drive and the game.
The loss was a defensive showcase, as neither quarterback looked good today. Both Julian Sayin and Josh Hoover also suffered injuries in the game, with the latter not returning, while Hoover missed just one play.
Bryant Haines did everything he could to contain Jeremiah Smith Jr., holding him to just 68 yards on four receptions and one touchdown. The touchdown was consequential though, as he went up over two Indiana defenders in the end zone to pull down what ended up being the game-winner.
Besides the offensive struggles, Indiana made a number of mistakes that proved costly. Nico Radicic put a chip-shot field goal off the upright, which forced Indiana to go for the touchdown on the final drive. He also missed a 55-yarder, but it would have been a career-long and was well out of his range.
Indiana also got hit with a couple of big penalties, some which appeared justified, and some that didn’t. It’s the second straight week the Hoosiers got hit with a roughing the passer call as the officials continue to redefine exactly what’s legal to do to a quarterback.
It shouldn’t be a loss that will hurt Indiana’s ranking too much, same with the season outlook, but it was a winnable game that Curt Cignetti would surely like to get back. Nobody has defended Smith as well as the Hoosiers did today, and Amare Ferrell’s pair of interceptions really highlighted Sayin’s limitations before Sayin left the game with an injury.
For the 22 weeks before this, the Hoosiers had found a way to survive its mistakes and roster shortcomings, but the Buckeyes gave Indiana too much to handle today. If things go as expected, these two could meet again in the Big Ten Title game, so we’ll see what adjustments Cignetti and Mike Shanahan will make.