Ohio State’s collapse vs Texas makes one Indiana strength even more valuable

One of college football's biggest games of the year comes on October 17 when the Indiana Hoosiers host the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes have built up quite the rivalry over the past few seasons. Most notably, Ohio State remains the only Big Ten team to beat Curt Cignetti during his tenure at Indiana, and IU defeated OSU in the Big Ten Championship Game last December. The matchup between these Big Ten powers is still several weeks away, but the anticipation is already building.

Curt Cignetti still has one position battle to settle heading into Week 3

While there is plenty of eye-popping talent on both sides of the ball for both teams, special teams could play a vital role in that contest. Kicking often gets overlooked, but it has been an integral part of Indiana's success the past two seasons. On the other side, it was been the achillies heel for Ohio State.

Special teams once again dooms Ohio State in a big game

Ohio State and Texas played an instant classic over the weekend in Austin. The Buckeyes dominated for 3 quarters, and held a 23-3 lead going into the 4th quarter. It sure looked like Ryan Day and company were on their way to an impressive victory on the road. However, things would spiral for the Scarlet and Gray down the stretch.

The Buckeyes watched their 20-point lead slip away thanks in large part of missed opportunities to put the game on ice. One of the biggest moments in the game came with 4:21 left on the clock and Ohio State owning a 23-17 lead. Texas had come roaring back to make this a game, but Ohio State had a chance to seal the deal with a 45-yard field goal try from Connor Hawkins.

Hawkins missed the kick wide left, which kept the door open for Texas' improbable comeback. The miss loomed large, as Arch Manning then led the Longhorns down the field to take a 24-23 lead with under 30 seconds to play.

The Buckeyes don't lose often, but when they do, kicking plays a role. Ohio State has made a habit of missing field goals at the worst possible times. In recent years, the Buckeyes have missed timely kicks against Georgia in the CFP Semifinals, Miami (FL) in the CFP Quarterfinals, Michigan, and Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game. Jayden Fielding's miss from 27 yards with under 3 minutes to play ultimately led to Ohio State losing to Indiana in the Big Ten title game last December.

Kicking remains a big liability for Ohio State, and a consistent strength for Indiana

While the Buckeyes have struggled to find consistent field-goal accuracy in clutch moments, the Hoosiers have a reliable field goal force in the form of Nico Radicic.

Radicic knocked down 18 of his 19 field goal tried last season, as well as all 87 of his extra point attempts. He has made 30 of his 32 field goal attempts in his collegiate career, and has answered the call when relied upon in the biggest of games. Having that kind of reliable weapon in the kicking game can be the difference between a win and a loss. Radicic’s consistency could prove especially valuable in a game where field position and scoring opportunities are at a premium.

Ohio State’s kicking woes continue to be a glaring weakness, creating plenty of uncertainty in situations where every point matters. Indiana, meanwhile, has a reliable kicking game that could provide a significant edge when the Buckeyes come to Bloomington next month. With the meeting between the Hoosiers and Buckeyes expected to be a closely-fought battle from start to finish, field goal kicking will undoubtedly loom large. Advantage Indiana.

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