The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes hammered Indiana 42-14 Saturday, locking up a Big Ten Leaders Division championship and keeping their BCS National Championship hopes alive. The Buckeyes (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) racked up 308 rushing yards on Indiana. The loss will keep Indiana (4-7, 2-5 Big Ten) out of a bowl trip for the sixth consecutive season.
Indiana vs. Ohio State final score: Buckeyes coast to 42-14 win over Hoosiers
The Buckeyes did what they were supposed to do, and now hope for some help to get to the BCS title game.
Jamie Sabau
The Buckeyes jumped to a 28-0 halftime lead with four rushing touchdowns, two each by quarterback Braxton Miller and halfback Carlos Hyde. Miller completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Dontre Wilson late in the third period to extend the Buckeyes' advantage to 35-0. The teams exchanged fourth-quarter touchdowns, but the deed was done.
Ohio State finished Saturday’s game with 468 yards of total offense. Indiana racked up a nearly-identical 442 yards, but struggled with field position throughout the day and failed to convert on six possessions that ended in Ohio State territory.
Box Score Hero: Ohio State’s Braxton Miller didn’t do much through the air Saturday, because he didn’t need to. Miller completed just 11 of 17 pass attempts for 160 yards, but ran 13 times for 144 yards and two scores, leading Ohio State in rushing yards. Miller ran for 41 yards on his first attempt, and later rushed for a 37-yard score.
Rankings Ramifications: Ohio State’s ranking next week has little to do with its win over Indiana. If Baylor wins at Oklahoma State, the Bears could jump OSU in the polls. Otherwise, the Buckeyes will remain at No. 3 and hope for an Auburn or Florida win next week.
But Did They Cover? Ohio State was a 33-point favorite Saturday.
For More On This Game: For more on Buckeyes football, visit Ohio State community Land-Grant Holy Land. For more on Hoosiers football, visit Indiana community The Crimson Quarry. Both teams are also part of the discussion at Big Ten community Off Tackle Empire.
Next Week’s Schedule: Both teams face their most bitter rivals in the season’s final week: Ohio State travels to Ann Arbor to face Michigan, while Indiana hosts Purdue.
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