COLUMBUS – When the Buckeyes host Indiana Saturday the matchup will pit the Big Ten’s top two offenses against one another.
Wait! Did we say “Indiana?”
Yes, we did.
(2) Ohio State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten East) vs. Indiana (3-1, 1-0) at Ohio Stadium Oct. 8 (3:30 p.m./ESPN
The Hoosiers are averaging 496.8 yards per game, paced by the conference’s best passing game. Senior junior college transfer Richard Lagow leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game and is second only to J.T. Barrett in pass efficiency.
The Buckeyes bring the Big Ten’s leading offense, top scoring offense and its best ground game, led by freshman Mike Weber’s 123.8 yards per game.
“He’s a banger, he’s a thumper and he’s a plus-yardage guy most of the time,” Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer said about Weber.
He was asked whether 5’10” 212-pounder reminded him more of Buckeye and NFL standouts Ezekiel Elliot or Carlos Hyde and said he most resembled the latter.
“Mike also has great feet, great power, and that’s why I just compare him a little closer to Carlos Hyde,” he said.
The Buckeyes are more than four touchdown favorites over the Hoosiers, thanks to the nation’s stingiest defense, allowing only 9.3 points per game, and the only one to not allow a rushing touchdown this season.
“The best defense is good offense” is an adage repeated by George Washington, Mao Zedong and many, many others, but Meyer thinks the reverse can also be true, crediting the Buckeye defense with giving the offense a chance to get over some sluggish starts early this season and find its rhythm.
“That’s just the way the game of football is. If you have great defense things are going to get, usually, rolling for you at some point even if you struggle a little bit,” he said.
The Buckeyes are second in the FBS in turnover margin, with nine interceptions and two fumble recoveries, and lead the nation in defensive touchdowns with four, all pick-sixes.
SCHEDULING NOTE: The OSU -Michigan game Nov. 26 will kick off at noon on either ABC or ESPN