Indiana Football Game Preview: Ohio State – key question, injury report, how to watch

No. 5 Indiana football hits the road this weekend, traveling to Columbus, Ohio, to face No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio State enters the game with a 9-1 overall record, recording a 6-1 record in Big Ten conference play. Ohio State has been on a roll recently, winning its last four games, all of which were Big Ten matchups. Ohio State’s most recent loss came over a month ago on 10/12, as the team dropped a road game at Oregon, 32-31.

Indiana football enters the game with an impressive 10-0 record, looking to rise in the rankings and continue to inch closer to the Big Ten Title game.

Below is the full preview ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

Key Question

Can Indiana rise to the occasion against a true test team?

Despite Indiana holding a 10-0 record, having seven wins in Big Ten play, there is an argument that Indiana hasn’t faced off against any difficult opponents.

Indiana has managed to hold onto its undefeated record, despite quarterback Kurtis Rourke being sidelined with injury or having played through injury.

This achievement proved that Indiana is able to successfully navigate its way thru trouble.

Ohio State will be without center Seth McLaughlin, after McLaughlin tore his Achilles tendon in practice this past Tuesday.

The absence of McLaughlin will allow Indiana to have a major advantage at the skill mismatch at center. If Indiana can take advantage of this opportunity, Ohio State could be in trouble.

Related: ‘Do your research’: Curt Cignetti fires back amid national debate around Indiana football and its spot in the CFP rankings

Matchup History

Indiana will travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a road game on Saturday at noon in Ohio Stadium on FOX. The network’s Big Noon Kickoff and ESPN’s College GameDay pregame shows will be there leading into the top-5 matchup.

It will be the second time this season that Indiana has had Big Noon Kickoff as well as the second time having College GameDay. Big Noon came to Bloomington in Week 8 against Nebraska (10/19) and College GameDay was at Memorial Stadium in Week 9 against Washington (10/26).

This will be the 98th all-time meeting between the two programs with Ohio State leading the series, 80-12-5. Indiana is seeking its first win over Ohio State since 1988, when it won, 41-7.

Indiana and Ohio State each enter the game with a top-5 ranking in the AP and Coaches Polls as well as the College Football Playoff Top 25.

Read: ‘They have it all. They really do’: Indiana Football coach Curt Cignetti recognizes the challenge that Ohio State presents heading into Saturday’s matchup

Injury Updates

On Tuesday, Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke assured the media that his thumb injury is no longer a problem.

“I feel great. I feel really good. One of my things I was looking forward to the most was the bye week was to be able to let my thumb heal up and not beat it up and not have to throw five days a week… happy with the progress made and I’m feeling pretty close to one hundred percent now.”

Read: Indiana football QB Kurtis Rourke says he’s ‘pretty close to 100 percent’ healthy after thumb injury

Quick Hitters

Who? #5 Indiana (10-0) (7-0 B1G) vs #2 Ohio State (9-1) (6-1 B1G)

When? Saturday, Nov. 23 | 12:00 p.m. ET

Where? Ohio Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)

TV: Fox

Radio: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Spread: Ohio State is a 10.5-point favorite and the over/under is set at 53 points per DraftKings SportBook.

SEE ALSO: Say what? Joey Galloway thinks benching Kurtis Rourke to avoid injury is best-case to keep Indiana football in CFP field

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