No. 2 Ohio State struggles at times but downs Indiana 38-17

Yes, it was a win, but it didn’t always look that way on the field or feel that way in the post-game interview room, even though this is a vastly-improved IU coming off a signature victory over 2015 Big Ten champion and College Football Playoff participant Michigan State. Indiana’s last win over Ohio State came in 1988 and its last victory in Columbus was in 1987.

The schedule not only gave Wisconsin an extra week to prepare for Ohio State, but the Badgers will be fired up about playing in front of the home crowd for the first time in a month.

Ohio State is an 28-point favorite in the game, according to Vegas Insider. Campbell’s 91-yard bolt set up a TD in the final minute of the first half after the Hoosiers had cut their deficit to 17-10.

To be fair, IN defeated Ohio State IN 1987 and ’88. Baker had a game-high 11 tackles, including two of the Buckeyes’ season-high nine tackles for loss Saturday.

Michigan State has lost three in a row for the first time since early in the 2009 season. Overall in his 15-year head coaching career, Meyer is 158-27. He threw a pick-6 in the opener against Bowling Green, threw an interception against Rutgers last week and threw an errant pitch up near Weber’s facemask on Saturday. Ohio State Buckeyes lead 24-10 at half.

Meyer has won as many national titles in his first four seasons as Jim Tressel won during his 10 seasons.

The 2016 college football season continues on Saturday, Oct. 8, as No. 2 Ohio State hosts IN at Ohio Stadium IN Columbus, Ohio. Five plays later, Barrett hit Dontre Wilson with a 37-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach. The Wisconsin Badgers ground game is averaging 161.6 yards per contest, and Corey Clement leads the way with 319 yards and five touchdowns.

OSU’s defense continued its streak of not allowing a rushing touchdown. McLaughlin made three field goals, including one from 47 yards, and had been a flawless 8-8 on the year. Meyer said Barrett carried too many times, “and we have to fix it”.

Luckily, Ohio State’s defense continued to dominate. Barrett, who can still be considered a Heisman candidate after this game, just goes out and wins.

The Hoosiers seemed bent on generating a running attack and the Buckeyes seemed just as bent on making sure that didn’t happen.

IN capitalized on a lost fumble to score first.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE: As run blockers, these guys are really good. Making matters worse, however, for IU is that Ohio State is ranked as the No. 1 red zone defense in the nation.

Indiana’s poor Red Zone performance is turning touchdowns into field goals, and Griffen Oakes’ unexpected struggles are turning field goal opportunities into punts. Safety Malik Hooker’s four interceptions tie him for most in the country. He’s the flawless center fielder for this Ohio State defense that likes to put its corners on an island and get in your face. The Hoosiers need to find a way to establish the run or else Lagow will be on the run all afternoon. In 1987, IN came into Ohio Stadium and crushed the Buckeyes, prompting then-Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce to state that this 31-10 defeat was the “darkest day” that Bruce had known since becoming part of the program IN 1949.

Either way, the scarlet and gray took a 14-point lead into halftime.

It’s the Ohio State Buckeyes vs. the world the next two weeks. IN has never beaten a team ranked No. 1 or 2 in the country.