For nearly the entire game on Saturday, Ohio State held a lead on Indiana, but somehow never managed to pull away. The pesky Hoosiers remained within a touchdown into the second half, even though the Buckeyes never seemed likely to give up their advantage.
Behind a record-setting game from Dwayne Haskins, in which he tossed six touchdowns and passed for more than 400 yards, Ohio State pulled away late for a 49-26 win.
Let’s start this week’s version of Stock Up/Down with Haskins, who has reached the midpoint in his spectacular first season as Ohio State’s quarterback.
Stock Up
The Tua Tagovailoa-Dwayne Haskins Heisman race
Dwayne Haskins has begun to make his imprint in the Ohio State football record book. The redshirt sophomore became just the second player in program history to throw at least 400 yards in a single game. He came just four yards from eclipsing Art Schlichter’s record of 458 passing yards in a game. Haskins tied the single-game program record with six passing touchdowns against Indiana. He’s on pace to set a multitude of records, from the most Big Ten offensive players of the year honors to the best completion percentage in Ohio State history.
However, his Heisman Trophy odds fell this week, dropping from 15/4 (+375) to 9/2 (+450). Haskins hasn’t done anything to decrease his odds. He just happens to be competing for the same award as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa.
The Crimson Tide have only faced one ranked opponent, No. 22 Texas A&M, but Tagovailoa has put up video game-like numbers. He went 10 for 13 for 334 yards with four touchdowns on Saturday against Arkansas. Tagovailoa, who has completed 76-of-101 passes for 1,495 in six games, has 18 touchdowns and has not thrown an interception. Criticize the level of competition all you want, but he’s special.
So, too, is Haskins, of course. Both Haskins and Tagovailoa have some people calling them possibly the best quarterbacks in the history at their respective schools. Though it’s early in both of their careers, it’s not particularly difficult to make that case from a talent perspective. Things will change and a dark horse candidate often emerges as the season progresses, but Haskins and Tagovailoa could be setting up for an exciting two-man Heisman race.
Parris Campbell
Maybe there’s just something about Indiana that Parris Campbell enjoys playing against. Regardless, for the second year in a row, he tore up the Hoosier secondary. After catching six passes for 136 yards and a touchdown last season versus Indiana, he had career highs in catches (9) and receiving yards (142) to go along with a pair of touchdowns.
He was even left uncovered at one point and raced for a 71-yard touchdown. That was his second-longest career reception, trailing only his 74-yard catch last year against Indiana.
Campbell, who considered leaving for the NFL draft after last season but ultimately opted to return to Ohio State, leads the team in catches (35), yards (501) and touchdowns (7). So far, the decision looks to have benefited the fifth-year wideout.
Tuf Borland
When Tuf Borland suffered an Achilles injury in the spring, his status for the beginning of the this season was in doubt. And while he didn’t start against Oregon State in the season opener, he played nine snaps before increasing his play time week by week.
For his performance against Indiana, the Buckeyes named Borland defensive player of the game. He had three tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in his most productive game of the season. A healthy Borland offers the run defense an added asset after teams have picked up a few long gains in the first half of the season.
Binjimen Victor highlight grabs
He might not be the top receiver on the team in terms of catches, but Binjimen Victor might lead Ohio State in highlights. He made an outstretched touchdown catch while tumbling out the back of the end zone against Indiana on Saturday. It came just a week after his touchdown against Penn State that gave life to the visiting sideline.
Every play matter for Victor, a tall, lanky wideout who finally seems ready to take a larger role in the offense. He has nine catches for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
The Buckeyes have more than enough wideouts to spread the ball around this season. But next year, the junior could be in for a large uptick in targets. Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Terry McLaurin will have graduated, and K.J. Hill seems likely to head to the NFL after this season. Along with Austin Mack, Victor must continue to translate his impressive catches into consistent production, for not only is he involved in the offense this season, but he will have a vital role on next year's team.
Stock Down
Ohio State’s pass defense
The Buckeye defense buckled down in the second half of Saturday's game against Indiana, but there was plenty of concern to go around about Peyton Ramsey dicing up the secondary in the first half, Ramsey finished the game 26 of 49 for 322 yards and three touchdowns.
Cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Kendall Sheffield each were made to look silly on a few plays. Jahsen Wint took a poor angle, and Shaun Wade and Jeffrey Okudah each got beat. Even Jordan Fuller got caught in a bad position at least once. It didn't help that the Nick Bosa-less defensive line couldn't seem to get much of a pass rush.
Urban Meyer, on Monday, said he was looking at the positives in the second half and in turnovers forced. However, it's worth monitoring whether the problems against the pass persist in coming weeks.
Chris Ash and Rutgers
I mean, what more is there to say about the seemingly hopeless Scarlet Knights?
They trot out there every Saturday, but haven’t managed to even play close games against Kansas, Illinois and Buffalo. Per NJ.com, Chris Ash said while many people see a 1-5 record and think the "sky is falling," that's "not the reality." If that's not actually the reality, though, that speaks to a larger issue of impressively low expectations. Ash, in his third year leading the Scarlet Knights, should have them in a better position.
