It's a fun Saturday if you're an Ohio State fan.
The Buckeyes came out to a raucous Horseshoe and played with an edge fueled by their home crowd's tenacity. All week it felt like there was a desire to make a statement against 10-0 No. 5 Indiana, with a head coach in Curt Cignetti who had talked a big game all season.
Ohio State not only made a statement with its 38-15 scoreline against the Hoosiers, who they held to a meager 151 yards of total offense, but the Buckeyes made sure to put an exclamation point on the game with a 1-yard plunge in the final minute. Quarterback Will Howard extinguished an imaginary cigarette in remembrance of Coach Cig after the game.
Will Howard had a few messages for Cignetti and Indiana after Ohio State's win pic.twitter.com/PGzTLE6E7p
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 23, 2024
The Shoe was its loudest on a 79-yard punt return touchdown for Caleb Downs, the first for the Buckeyes since 2014 when Jalin Marshall had a runback that also came against Indiana in the next-to-last week of the season.
Howard was among Saturday's standouts, going 22-of-26 for 201 yards, two touchdowns and an interception that came off a dropped pass by Ohio State tight end Jelani Thurman. Linebacker Cody Simon collected 11 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble to lead a dominant day for Ohio State’s pass rush.
But above all else, Ohio State must carry this momentum through to its rivalry clash with Michigan next week – regardless of the Wolverines' record.
Eleven Warriors' Andy Anders and Dan Hope recap a fun, thrilling day from Ohio Stadium on the latest episode of After Carmen, which you can view at the top of the page.
- #2 Ohio State 38, #5 Indiana 15
- • Buckeyes Blow Out Hoosiers 38-15
- • Buckeyes Make Statement, Ready for Another
- • Defensive Domination
- • Downs Returns Punt 79 Yards for a Score
- • Ohio State Postgame • Indiana Postgame • Photos • After Carmen
- • Five Things • Notebook • Social Reax • Three Key Stats