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Indiana Football vs. Ohio State: Preview, key storylines, and prediction

By Trevor Gersmehl

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 12: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers warms up before the start of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 12: Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers warms up before the start of the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium on October 12, 2019 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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Indiana football vs. Ohio State: Key storylines and prediction

Scene: It is 6:00 PM on September 14th, 2019 and you’re mourning a brutal 51-10 loss to Ohio State. You thought the Hoosiers had a shot to win and pin a signature win against an elite team on their vest. What ended up happening was sheer domination. “Tom Allen has this team headed in the right direction,” you tell yourself, “but we are still unable to compete at the top of the Big Ten.”
Flash forward one crazy year-and-two-months later and Indiana is meeting Ohio State in a top-10 battle. Even the greatest Indiana football optimists couldn’t have seen this coming, but we are here.

As always, the Buckeyes cup runneth over with elite talent and eventual NFL players. Justin Fields is having one of the best seasons an Ohio State quarterback has ever played. His stats cannot be understated. The junior quarterback is averaging 300 passing yards per game with an 87% completion rate and 11 touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception this season. Fields is accompanied by superb receiver Chris Olave and dominant running back Master Teague, both of whom dominated Indiana last season.

Ohio State is skilled on the defensive side of the ball as well, albeit not as much as in years past. There are no top-10 picks like Chase Young and Jeff Okudah on the team this season, which should make it easier for the Hoosiers to score than last year.

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