I’m enjoying the value of the Big Ten network. The early Sunday morning rewatch without commercials is awesome. Jaloni Cambridge & Bruce Thornton and Ohio State basketball on demand, spectacular. Both Ohio State soccer teams are killing it right now also, so those are great watches too. Onto the football.
TreVeyon Henderson has established himself in my mind as the number one back on the team. He is really doing everything at an incredibly high level. In those first handful of games it looked like Quinshon might be the more explosive runner, but I’ll take TreVeyon any day of the week.
This team can win a championship with Will Howard at quarterback. He still makes a few head-scratching decisions, but at least he’s not sitting back there waiting to get slaughtered. Part of the reason this offensive line looked good was because he made quick decisions and threw the ball accurately. Major kudos to him.
Big Ten officiating…it has already been said, but just I don’t understand it. Call it both ways or don’t call it at all. Igbinosun’s first PI penalty call was somewhere between dubious and absolutely horrible. And oh by the way, yes it was probably because of an awesome pass rush, but aren’t you happy that Denzel Burke had a quiet and clean game?
Gus Johnson’s lackluster call of the past few Ohio State games has gotten under the skin of a few people on this forum, I totally understand it. But boy didn’t he say it like it is when he proclaimed: if you can play wide receiver at a high-level why would you go anywhere else but THE Ohio State University. And then boom, we get our first 2027 commit, five star receiver Jamier Brown. Sometimes karma is NOT a bitch.
Under radar play of the game: after a goal line stand and up 7-0, facing third and one, Tyleik Williams reaches out and pushes an Indiana lineman, forcing the officiating crew to admit that, yes there was a false start there! Send Indiana back 5 yards. Next play is a party in the Indiana backfield as somewhere between 3 and 47 Buckeyes sack Rourke. 4th & 17, short punt (a GOOD moment in the game for IU’s punter), three passes to Egbuka, including a beauty into the end zone, and the score is tied. Indiana doesn’t know it yet, but their “google me!” coach just got alligator arms and it’s gonna show up for the rest of the game.
Jim Knowles, man Jim Knowles! Did he dial up some beautiful disguises or what! This is what we always thought we were gonna get and I’m glad he’s decided to take some risks. Cody Simon on the blindside blitzing strip sack, Bucks in business at the Indiana 18. Jeremiah Smith absolutely mugged on what would’ve likely been a touchdown pass: come on Big Ten officiating! 8 for IU is good. That throw to Jelani was right on his hands. I’m not gonna dump on Thurman either, he’s a kid learning to play.
Indiana had a surprising amount of good runs on the day, but did they ever really think they were gonna be able to win the game without throwing the ball down field? Knowles/Simon again: sack! Good teams make their own breaks. That sack is a segue to 4th & 15 and boy-oh-boy watching Caden Curry celebrate another special team’s victory never EVER gets old. Is there a cying punter meme somewhere?
Will Howard must have gotten himself some new cleats, he managed to fall forward all day long instead of backwards. New center, new left guard, no problem: run left and TreVeyon into the end zone! Chip Kelly’s blocking schemes might be the most beautiful thing in football.
Ransom/Downs best safety combo in OSU history. Downs is like a better version of Jabrill Peppers, you know, in the right uniform and without criminal intent. That punt return for a TD is my favorite play of the season and effectively ended this game in Ohio State’s favor. ( Love ya Nick Saban)
Unlikely due to Travis Hunter, but Biletnikoff to Jeremiah Smith and Thorpe to Caleb Downs oughta happen. We have the 2 best 2’s in the country. I can barely tell Egbuka and Downs apart!
Jeremiah Smith has hands like vice grips. Sweep to Smith for first and goal. Another beautiful Chip Kelly innovation and Jelani Thurman gets redemption in the end zone. Thank you Ryan Day for going out and getting two spectacular coordinators and taking a half step back. I don’t wanna hear any rumblings about a new coach!
Man, when you are winning the line of scrimmage, the whole world is a more beautiful place. (I got the AFLAC trivia question correct in real time without 17 guesses like Joel Klatt, nor did anybody hand me a post-it with the correct answer on it.) You would think that a defensive line sized punter would be able to kick the ball a little further.
Santa, all I want for Christmas is this version of Ohio State’s defensive line for the remainder of the season. I have been real good. Was that a clone of Jack Sawyer smacking his head in the stands in the black T-shirt? I love that guy. I also love David Sanders, c’mon dude, c’mon!
Jeez, I just didn’t realize in real time what an effect Egbuka had on this game. I voted for Caleb Downs for player of the game, but I want to recast my vote for Egbuka, he was absolutely terrific.
Both of Indiana’s touchdown drives were aided by multiple penalties on Ohio State. TreVeyon Henderson safe at third! He is a total class act. Will Howard steals home and stubs a ciggy. Cignetti throws up a lil’ bit in his mouth. I hope he sat next to the punter on the way home.
I am absolutely thrilled that we had to take down an undefeated Penn State team, same with Indiana, that we had to go to Oregon and play in that environment, that we’ve got the cheaters from up north next week, that we may have to face Oregon not once but maybe twice more! Playing a ton of good teams builds national championship character! Go Bucks!
