Buckeyes set for undefeated Hoosiers

COLUMBUS – The match-up of top five teams between Ohio State and Indiana that will take place on Saturday at Ohio Stadium carries big consequences for both teams, a rarity in the series dominated by OSU. A win by Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) and a win the following week over Michigan would give the Buckeyes a trip to the Big Ten Championship game. Indiana (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) also has a path to the championship game. It ends its regular season the week after this game with a game against Purdue, the Big Ten's last place team. Indiana has won only two Big Ten football championships – an outright title in 1945 and a shared title in 1967, which sent it to the Rose Bowl for the only time in school history. Ohio State, which has a current 28-game winning streak over the Hoosiers, did not play Indiana in 1945 or 1967, which makes this year's game the obvious choice for the most consequential football game ever between OSU and IU. Indiana has done a quick turnaround in coach Curt Cignetti's first season, going from 3-9 a year ago to undefeated. A large infusion of transfer portal talent, including four offensive starters and four defensive starters from Cignetti's previous school, James Madison University, has been a significant part of Indiana's success this season. "It's going to come down to our leaders leading the way and using the experience they've had late in the season the last few years. I think that's one of the things about this team is that these guys have been through multiple seasons together," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said at his weekly press conference on Tuesday. "I think our guys have done a great job of identifying the things we needed to do a better job at earlier in the season. This will be a great challenge for them and a test to see where we're at. I think you've seen improvement in different areas but this will be a great test for them," he said. Indiana ranks No. 2 nationally in scoring (43.9 points a game) and leads the Big Ten with 31 sacks, one ahead of the Buckeyes' 30. "This is going to be a great challenge for the offensive line. I know they're excited about it. I think they're excited about the challenge," Day said. One of the keys to the success OSU's offensive line has had since it lost starting left tackles Josh Simmons for the season in the Oregon game is the ability of Donovan Jackson to move to left tackle from left guard. "You know what to expect now. I think going into the Penn State game (Jackson's first game at tackle) you weren't too sure because he hadn't done it much. Now, at least, you have a body of work to work off so you know what you're getting. The more he plays it the more comfortable he's getting," Day said. Maybe the most welcome words for OSU fans that Day spoke on Tuesday were the three when he said standout freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith was "good to go" after having his ankle twisted by a Northwestern player on a tackle last Saturday. Day said Ohio State had submitted video of the play to the Big Ten office but had not yet received a reply. NOTES: … REESE IMPRESSES: Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles liked what he saw from sophomore linebacker Arvell Reese in a 31-7 win over Northwestern last week. "I thought Arvell Reese had his best game of the year, which was exciting to see. I saw a real leap forward with him last game," Knowles said. Former 5-star recruit CJ Hicks, who has fallen behind Reese in the competition for the No.3 linebacker role for OSU was credited with a sack against Northwestern. Knowles said a role as an edge rusher might be in Hicks' future. "CJ has that talent and that skill. I think his future is going to involve a lot more of that," Knowles said. … THIRD-QUARTER DEFENSE: Ohio State has not given up a touchdown in the third quarter this season. Knowles attributes this defensive stinginess to having lots of experienced players. "I feel like we have veteran players who you can make adjustments with. There's always a flow to games. Teams come at you with different things. That's just football. You can work on something all week and not get it all. "I feel like our guys are veterans and they make those adjustments. They can meet the challenge," he said.