Recap: Indiana football falls to No. 3 Ohio State 23-3, starts season with loss

Indiana football kicks off their season today at Memorial Stadium but face a tough challenge with No. 3 Ohio State coming into Bloomington.

It was also announced that redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby would be the starting QB for Indiana football.

The Hoosiers are looking to bounce back from a dreadful 4-8 campaign in 2022. Meanwhile, Ohio State went 11-2 last season and had a one-point loss to Georgia in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Indiana will open with a Big Ten foe for the fifth time in Tom Allen’s seven campaigns and fourth straight season. Allen has faced Ohio State (2017 & 2023), Penn State (2020), Iowa (2021) and Illinois to open the season as the Hoosiers frontman. Since 2002, Indiana has opened the season at home in 14 of the previous 21 seasons. The Hoosiers own a 13-1 record in those games, with the lone loss to No. 2 Ohio State (2017).

Indiana football has a 6-18 record over the past two years which followed a 14-7 record the two seasons prior.

Below is a live blog with updated coverage throughout the game.

First Quarter

Ohio State won the count toss and elected to defer. Indiana started with the ball.

Brendan Sorsby led the offense on the field. His first snap as a started ended up with a sack. He made up for with a 15 yard run.

There was originally targeting called on Ohio State but would be overturned. Hoosiers would open up the season going 3-and-out.

Ohio State would have a nice consistent offensive drive to start their season off.

At 3rd and 2, Indiana got a huge stop on third down but Ohio State kept its offense on the field and got the first down. Ohio State would go onto score with a. 7-yard TD run by RB Miyan Williams. Buckeyes only needed 11 plays and 80 yards to get it done.

Ohio State led 7-0 with 7:16 left in Q1.

RB Jaylin Lucas would have a 34 yard return but a block in the back would bring the ball back to 8-yard line.

Indiana would have another 3-and-out. The Ohio State defense was not letting Indiana get anything. Ohio State ball at the 38-yard line.

Indiana football would force a 3-and-out from Ohio State. Great defensive stop from the Hoosiers. Indiana ball on the 19-yard line.

In no surprise, Tayven Jackson would replace Brendan Sorsby at QB. He would lead the Hoosiers to their first, first-down of the game but Indiana would then be forced to punt again. Ohio State ball on the USO 21-yard line.

After two plays, the quarter would end. After the first quarter Indiana’s offense had gained 27 total yards.

End Q1: Ohio State 7, Indiana 0

Second Quarter

Ohio State would start the second quarter on the OSU34.

Despite getting called for a hold earlier in the quarter, Ohio State would march down the field. Indiana would then get another big stop at 3rd down on the IU 29-yard line, but Ohio State would then keep its offense on the field. That however, resulted in an intercepted from Indiana safety Phillip Dunham.

That interception built some much needed momentum for Indiana’s offense. After a really good drive from the Hoosiers, they would get to a 4th-and-y on the OSU 24. After unsuccessfully trying to get the Buckeyes to come offsides, Tom Allen would call a timeout.

Indiana would attempt a field goal and make it. Hoosiers were rewarded with points after their best drive of the game.

Ohio State led 7-3 with 6:15 left in Q2.

Indiana would force a three-and-out and get the ball back. Jaylin Lucas would follow that with a 29-yard return. Hoosiers’ ball on the IU 42-yard line.

Hoosiers would get stopped on the OSU 39 after going for it on 4th-and-4. Tayven Jackson’s pass was incomplete to Dequece Carter. Tun over on downs.

Indiana would then get called for taunting. The taunting call came from Jamari Sharpe.

A couple of plays later, it looked as though Indiana recovered a fumble, however it was called incomplete. Play went under review and was determined to be an incomplete pass. Very tough call. Hoosiers would call a timeout with 11 seconds to go.

Hoosiers would force a stop on 3rd down. Ohio State would send out the FG unit. Tom Allen would call the final timeout of the half to try and ice the kicker.

Ohio State would convert on the FG attempt with would extend the lead to 7.

Half would end. Overall, Indiana’s defense made enough plays to keep the Hoosiers in this one heading into the second half.

Ohio State was able to compile 172 total yards compared to Indiana’s 88.

End Q2: Ohio State 10, Indiana 3

Third Quarter

Ohio State with the ball to start off the second half. They would start at the 25-yard line.

Hoosiers would force a 3-and-out and get the ball back. Fantastic way for the defense to start off vs the No. 3 team in the country.

Hoosiers would then go three-and-out as well. Walt Bell called up a nice QB draw but Tayven Jackson came up short. Hoosiers would punt it. Ohio State ball at the OSU25.

Hoosiers were close to another stop, however a brutal pass interference call by Indiana football CB Kobee Minor would halt that. Real momentum killer as Ohio State would march down he field and almost immediately get in the redzone.

Indiana would force another huge stop on Ohio State, this time in the redzone. Ohio State would then convert on the easy FG attempt.

Ohio State 13, Indiana 3 with 6:42 left in Q3.

Hoosiers would follow up by going 3-and-out. The offense went back to being extremely stale which resulted in the momentum going flat.

Devon McCord would throw a bomb to Cade Stover for a 49 yard gain. After what looked to then be an Ohio State TD, it would be called back for ‘legal touching’ by the offense.

Ohio State would respond with a 3-yard rushing TD from Miyan Williams.

The Buckeyes led 20-3 with 1:51 in Q3.

Brendan Sorsby would return at QB for Indiana replacing Tayven Jackson. Quarter would come to a close after a first down from the Hoosiers.

End Q3: Ohio State 20, Indiana 3

Fourth Quarter

Ohio State would continue to put it up on Indiana throughout the fourth quarters. Hoosiers did not have any offensive momentum going to them and the defense was extremely gassed up to the point.

The Buckeyes would go onto to hit a 22-yard FG with less than 6 minutes to go which would extend the lead to 23-3.

The Hoosiers again would not be able to get much offense going and would be forced to punt for the final time of the game.

Ohio State would end total 380 yards compared to Indiana’s 153. The Hoosiers were only able to covert on 10 total first downs. Indiana also never made into the redzone.

Indiana was led in by Sosrby who went 8-of-16 for 58 yard. Tayve Jackson only went 1-of-5 for 24 yard. Christian Turner led Indiana in rushing with 29 yards while Cam Camper led Indiana with 35 yards in receiving.

Ohio State QB Kyle McCord  totaled on 239 yards converting on 20-of-33 attempts.

Final: Ohio State 23, Indiana 3

Overall, Indiana was just outmatched against the No. 3 team in the country, which as expected. The defense from the Indiana football Hoosiers showed major promise as they kept in the game for the majority of it. The offense, however, still has too many questions and both Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson showed struggles.

Indiana is back in action next Friday when they face the Indiana State Sycamores (0-1).

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