Aug 31, 2017; Bloomington, IN, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) passes the ball in the second half of the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Photo Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — J.T. Barrett threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns and ran for a score to help No. 2 Ohio State to a 49-21 victory over Indiana on Thursday night in a season opener for the Big Ten teams.
Trailing 21-20 with under five minutes left in the third quarter, Ohio State scored four consecutive touchdowns to push the lead to 49-21.
Ohio State freshman J.K. Dobbins rushed for 181 yards on 29 carries. Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow passed for 410 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions. The Hoosiers rushed just 17 yards on 27 carries.
Barrett gave the Buckeyes the lead at 20-14 on a 2-yard touchdown run with 6:57 left in the third quarter. It was Ohio State’s first lead since 3-0.
On the ensuing possession, a 35-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Buckeyes defensive tackle Robert Landers was overturned when the play was ruled an incomplete pass by Lagow. Indiana was able to keep the drive alive and regained the lead at 21-20 on a 2-yard scoring pass from Lagow to Ian Thomas.
It was short-lived as Barrett connected with Parris Campbell on 74-yard touchdown pass. For Campbell, it was redemption after dropping a 41-yard pass in the end zone on the opening drive of the second half. J.K. Hill was stopped for no gain on fourth and 2 on the next play.
Ohio State made it 35-21 on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Barrett to Johnnie Dixon and two-point conversion run by Barrett with 1:47 left in the third quarter. Barrett then hooked up with Binjimen Victor for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
Richard Lagow threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to lead the Hoosiers to a 14-13 lead at intermission.
The Buckeyes marched down the field on the game’s opening possession before the drive stalled, settling for a 27-yard field goal by Sean Nuernberger.
On their first possession, the Hoosiers moved ahead 7-3 on 18-yard touchdown pass from Lagow to Thomas. The pass was initially ruled incomplete but a replay showed Thomas dragged his back foot in bounds before his lead foot touched the line.
An Indiana drive was snuffed out on third-and-5 from Ohio State 14 when Jordan Fuller intercepted a tipped Lagow pass on the goal line and returned it 40 yards. The Buckeyes drove to Hoosiers 2-yard line before being stopped short on third down. Nuernberger kicked a 19-yard field goal with 10:15 left in the second quarter.
The Hoosiers proceeded to go 80 yards in 10 plays in 2:03, capped by Lagow’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Simmie Cobbs Jr. to take a 14-6 lead.
The Buckeyes narrowed the deficit to 14-13 on Antonio Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with 2:55 left in the first half. Dobbins supplied the key play with a 27-yard run.
NOTES: Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett moved into first place on the school’s career total offense list, passing QB Art Schlichter (1978-81). … This was the 11th time Indiana had opened the season against a ranked team and the first time in Bloomington. … Thursday marked the first visit by ESPN College GameDay. The crew includes former Indiana coach Lee Corso (1973-82). … Former Hoosiers coach Kevin Wilson, who resigned after the 2016 regular season after philosophical differences with athletic director Fred Glass, became Ohio State offensive coordinator in January.
