Buckeyes handle Hoosier comeback attempt

No. 3 Ohio State welcomed a Top 10 Indiana team into Ohio Stadium for the first time in more than 50 years. The Buckeyes outlasted the No. 9 ranked Hoosiers (4-1), 42-35, overcoming three turnovers and a second-half rally by IU.

After a defensive first quarter that saw the Buckeyes hold a 7-0 advantage, Ohio State once again owned the second quarter and took a 28-7 lead into halftime. Indiana closed to within 42-35 late in the game as Ohio State essentially salted away the win on the ground.

Ohio State once again impressed offensively, topping 300 yards on the ground and through the air. Justin Fields threw for 300 yards for the third game in a row and despite suffering his first interceptions of the season, tossed a pair of TDs passes and added 78 yards rushing. Master Teague rushed for a career-best 169 yards on 26 carries and added two TDs. For the third time this season, both Ohio State wide received Garrett Wilson (7-169-2) and Chris Olave (8-101) topped the 100-yard mark.

Saturday marked the first time in Ohio State program history it produced a 300-yard passer, 150-yard rusher and 150-yard receiver in the same game.

Defensively, Ohio State held Indiana to -1 yard rushing. LB Pete Werner had eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Shaun Wade returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.

The Buckeyes, now 4-0, will play back-to-back road games at Illinois and Michigan State the next two Saturdays. Game times and broadcast information are yet to be announced.

Scroll along for along for quarter by quarter recap.

After stopping Indiana on its first possession, the Buckeyes showed no rust from being off for two weeks as Justin Fields connected with Garrett Wilson on a 65-yard catch-and-run on the first play of the game. That set up a quick 10-yard slant between the pair to give the Buckeyes their first points of the game on a drive that lasted a mere 33 seconds.

Outside of the first Ohio State drive, the quarter was dominated by both defenses. Uncharacteristically, the Buckeyes committed a pair of turnovers in the quarter as Fields threw his first two interceptions of the season. The Ohio State defense held Indiana to just 33 yards of total offense and -17 yards rushing in the frame.

Wilson’s quick touchdown

Indiana knotted up the game at 7-7 on its first possession of the second quarter, marching 84 yards in six plays. The drive was finished off with a Michael Penix pass to Whop Philyor toss from four yards out. Penix was 4-for-4 passing on the drive.

The Buckeyes wasted no time answering on its next possession. Fields connected with Olave to move the chains several times on a 7-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by a 41-yard rumble by Teague up the sideline and into the endzone.

On its next possession, Ohio State extended its lead to double digits with yet another quick scoring drive (8 plays, 76 yards in 3:08). Trey Sermon rushed for 28 yards on the drive and Fields had the key play – a 30-yard scamper – that setup Teague’s second TD run of the day from two yards out.

The Silver Bullets turned away an IU threat late in the period as Baron Browning forced and recovered a fumble inside the Buckeye 10 yardline. Ohio State flipped the field covering 93 yards in nine plays and less than three minutes. Fields again found Olave for a pair of first down completions covering 31 and 13 yards, respectively, before taking it into his own hands and launching himself into paydirt from nine yards out and 28-7 lead heading into the break.

Teague’s Touchdown, Part 1

Teague’s Touchdown, Part 2

Fields Finds Paydirt

Ohio State picked up where it left off with its first drive of the second half. After a fairly quiet first half for Wilson outside of the initial Buckeye possession, he reintroduced himself to the Hoosiers to the tune of three catches for 59 yards on the drive. The last nine yards accounted for his second TD of the day from Fields. The Buckeyes covered 75 yards on six plays in just less than three minutes.

Indiana made its way to the end zone its first touch of the second half as well. Penix connected with Ty Fryfogle for a 63-yard TD pass to conclude a 75-yard drive in just three plays and 1:22. Penix and Fryfogle struck again on IU’s next possession, this time from 33 yards away pulling the game within 35-21 late in the period. The drive covered 60 yards on five plays in a shade under two minutes.

After a Buckeye missed field-goal attempt, Indiana took over deep in its own territory. Defensive back Shaun Wade stepped in front of a Penix pass and breezed down the sideline 36 yards for a pick-6 to close out the quarter.

Wilson Back At It

Shaun Wade’s Pick 6

The Hoosiers – undaunted by Wade’s pick six – marched down the field on its next possession as Penix hit David Ellis for a 10-yard TD pass, his fourth of the game, to complete a 10-play, 75-yard drive in in 3:23.

Penix notched TD pass No. 5 finding Fryfogle for the third time to bring the game within seven points with just more than 10:00 to play. Fryfogle’s 56-yard scoring play capped the drive that last just two plays and :14.

Ohio State drove all the way down inside the IU 10 but turned the ball over on downs on an incomplete pass by Fields on fourth-and-one with just more than four minutes to play. The Silver Bullet defense bowed up and after a third down sack by LB Pete Warner forced an IU punt.

The Buckeyes salted away most of the clock after the stop. Indiana had one last possession with :38 to play, but could not advance past midfield.