Ohio State Blows Out Indiana, 38-15, for Second Top-Five Win of Season

Curt Cignetti’s efforts to back up his bold claim from his introduction at Indiana last winter came to a screeching halt on Saturday as the Hoosiers suffered a blowout loss to the Buckeyes, 38-15, for their first loss of the season.

The Buckeyes earned their second top-five win of the season to improve to 10-1 on the year, putting them a rivalry game win away from earning a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game and effectively clinching a College Football Playoff spot.

Caleb Downs scored Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years to help the Buckeyes pull away from the Hoosiers in their penultimate game of the regular season.

The Buckeyes got off to a slow start, going three-and-out on their opening possession before allowing Indiana to drive 70 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard touchdown run by Ty Son Lawton.

Ohio State’s second drive appeared likely to stall out at midfield when an illegal block in the back penalty against Carson Hinzman and an intentional grounding penalty against Will Howard put the Buckeyes into 3rd-and-35, but Howard responded by completing passes of 25 and 24 yards to Carnell Tate to get Ohio State into the red zone.

3rd & 35: Throw to Tate for a 25 yard gain
4th & 10: Throw to Tate for a first down

Carnell Tate to the rescue for @OhioStatefb pic.twitter.com/qZFl5du6l7

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024

The Buckeyes failed to finish the drive with points, however, as Quinshon Judkins was stopped for no gain on 4th-and-1 run from the 2-yard line.

After allowing Indiana to convert its first five third downs of the game, Ohio State’s defense finally got off the field as it sacked Kurtis Rourke for an 11-yard loss on an all-out blitz. The Buckeyes got the ball back at Indiana’s 44-yard line and took advantage of the short field, driving for their first touchdown of the game which came on a 11-yard pass from Howard to Emeka Egbuka.

It was only a matter of time before Emeka Egbuka scored @OhioStatefb ties things up in Columbus

(brought to you by @ATTBusiness #ATTBusiness #NextLevelNetwork) pic.twitter.com/YOL2vs8w8R

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024

Ohio State got the ball back in the red zone when Cody Simon forced a fumble with a third-down strip sack off an explosive blitz that was recovered by Ty Hamilton, but the Buckeyes gave the ball back without scoring when a pass went off of Jelani Thurman’s hands and was intercepted by Indiana linebacker Jailin Walker.

Ohio State got the ball back in the red zone again on its next possession when Caden Curry tackled Indiana punter James Evans at the 7-yard line after he dropped a snap. Ohio State took its first lead of the game with 21 seconds to play before halftime on a 4-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson.

And just like that the Buckeyes take the lead!

What a turnaround for @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/1nn9StTUe6

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024

Ohio State took a 14-point lead less than three minutes into the second half when Downs fielded a punt off a bounce and returned it for a 79-yard touchdown, Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since Jalin Marshall had a 54-yard punt return touchdown against Indiana on Nov. 22, 2014.

Ohio States first punt return touchdown in 10 years comes on a 79-yard return by Caleb Downs. pic.twitter.com/ODfG0p6Atn

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 23, 2024

The Buckeyes took a three-touchdown lead on their next possession with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Thurman.

ANOTHER BUCKEYES TD@OhioStateFB makes it a 28-7 game in the third quarter pic.twitter.com/Ja4Ch4FwLw

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024

Jayden Fielding made it 31 unanswered points for Ohio State when he made a 45-yard field goal with 8:56 to play.

Indiana nearly made the final score more respectable by putting together a 15-play, 75-yard drive that it capped off with another 2-yard touchdown run by Lawton and followed with a two-point conversion. After Indiana attempted an onside kick, however, Henderson sprung a 39-yard run to get the ball to the 1-yard line.

Ohio State could have let the clock run out from there, but the Buckeyes opted to go for another touchdown with Will Howard powering the ball across the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown to make it a 23-point final margin of victory.

Ohio State now enters its final week of the regular season with its minds on revenge as the Buckeyes host Michigan next Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State is looking to end a three-game losing streak against the Wolverines; if it does, the Buckeyes will clinch a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game, in which they would play Oregon in a rematch of their only loss of the year.

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