Ohio State defeated Indiana 19-15 in Bloomington on Oct. 17, ending the Hoosiers’ 22-game winning streak in a closely contested game that turned on late fourth-quarter plays. The result gave the Buckeyes a road win in a matchup between highly ranked Big Ten teams, while leaving questions about the health of Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.
Indiana took the lead when quarterback Josh Hoover threw a touchdown pass with just over 10 minutes remaining. Ohio State then answered with a scoring play from Jeremiah Smith, who provided the decisive touchdown. Smith said after the game that he had run the wrong route, but that Sayin trusted him and he made the play.
The final minute brought another potential swing. With 1:02 left, Indiana receiver Nick Marsh appeared to make a go-ahead touchdown catch, prompting a celebration among the home crowd. Officials ruled that Marsh was out of bounds on the catch, so the score did not stand. The ruling preserved Ohio State’s lead and helped secure the victory.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti acknowledged the disappointment after the loss, saying the team had an opportunity but did not complete the play. He described the result as difficult to accept and said the Hoosiers would learn from it and move on.
Sayin’s status is a key concern for Ohio State. He injured his shoulder in the fourth quarter and returned to the sideline wearing a sling. Coach Ryan Day said Sayin would be out for at least a couple of weeks. Ohio State has a bye next week before a scheduled trip to USC in late October, according to the source report.
The win ended Indiana’s extended streak and strengthened Ohio State’s position in the Big Ten race. The source report said the Buckeyes had previously lost to Texas after a fourth-quarter collapse. It also noted that Indiana’s offense faced questions, including whether the team could get more from Hoover and its receivers as it pursues another postseason run. Those assessments are forward-looking commentary from the report; the confirmed outcome was the 19-15 Ohio State win and the end of Indiana’s streak.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia told assistant coaches after the game that he did not want to watch the final play again, according to the report. The dramatic finish capped a game whose decisive events came late, with Smith’s touchdown and the ruling on Marsh’s catch shaping the result.
