HEADLINE

No. 6 Ohio State rolls into Big Ten opener at Indiana

Field Level Media

September 10, 2019 at 7:20 pm.

No. 6 Ohio State enters its Big Ten opener at Indiana playing at a high level, having outscored its first two opponents by a combined score of 87-21.

Still, first-year coach Ryan Day has plenty of concerns heading into the conference opener for both teams.

“We want to be the best in the country,” Day said. “The message to the team is the issues are still on film, whether you win or lose.”

So far, the film has shown that Ohio State’s offense remains dynamic, even with a new starting quarterback.

Sophomore Justin Fields, a touted transfer from Georgia who replaced departed Dwayne Haskins this season, completed 20 of 25 passes for 224 yards with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns in Ohio State’s 42-0 win over Cincinnati last week.

With Fields and junior running back J.K. Dobbins clicking at the same time, the Buckeyes (2-0) scored on touchdown drives of 1:31, 1:49 and 40 seconds to take a 21-0 lead against the Bearcats.

Dobbins has rushed for 232 yards and three TDs on the season, while Fields has passed for 458 yards and six touchdowns, with three rushing TDs. Day said Fields — who has not been intercepted — showed progress from his first career start to his second.

“He kind of picked up where he left off,” Day said. “Still made some good decisions. I thought he was pretty good in the passing game. Still took a couple of hits in there I didn’t like. He’s going to have to learn that way.”

Indiana (2-0) is coming off its most lopsided win at Memorial Stadium since 1944, beating FCS opponent Eastern Illinois 52-0 in its home opener last Saturday. The Hoosiers have been led by redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who has passed for 523 yards with three TDs and two interceptions in his first two career starts.

Penix won the job in camp over Peyton Ramsey, who has started 16 career games, including all 12 last season.

“We’re rising every week,” Penix said of Indiana’s offense. “I can see it.”

Defensively, IU saw its nation-best takeaway streak of 19 consecutive games come to an end against Eastern Illinois, but the Hoosiers limited the Panthers to 116 yards in posting their first shutout since beating Rutgers 41-0 in 2017.

Indiana has lost 12 straight games against ranked opponents. Its last victory against a ranked team was a 24-21 overtime win on Oct. 1, 2016, against No. 17 Michigan State.

“We have to play extremely hard, we have to play extremely well, we have to play extremely physical, and we have to do it for 60 minutes,” Indiana coach Tom Allen said. “Not 50, not 40. It’s got to be 60. And that to me is the next step for this program and this game. Tremendous challenge and tremendous opportunity all wrapped up into one.”

Ohio State leads the series between the schools with a 74-15-2 record and hasn’t lost to Indiana since 1988.

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