The Indiana Hoosiers have been one of the biggest stories in college football this season. They are 10-0 and have their biggest test coming on Saturday.
Indiana will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to take on Ohio State in a Top 5 showdown, with College Football Playoff implications at stake.
As of Friday, Indiana is an 11-point underdog (according to ESPN Bet), down 2.5 points from the opening line, with Ohio State as a 13.5-point favorite.
Head coach Curt Cignetti is highly confident in his group, saying, “Look, we’ve got a group of guys and coaches that have won 24 out of their last 25 games, so we don’t have a confidence problem. We have a confident team that believes and takes care of business,” per Zach Browning of NBC Sports.
A win for the Hoosiers, and they are a lock for the CFP. On the other hand, a convincing win from Ohio State could begin to raise questions about Indiana’s lack of competition this season.
Here are three things Indiana must do to pull off the upset and leave no doubt that it is one of the best teams in the country.
Control the clock
Keeping the ball away from Ohio State will be a big step in Indiana securing the upset.
Ohio State averages just over 30 minutes of time of possession per game, and Indiana averages about the same.
The Buckeyes have an explosive offense that averages 37.8 points per game, and keeping the ball out of the hands of that offense will be utterly necessary.
If Indiana can hold Ohio State under its usual average time of possession, the Hoosiers can potentially steal a possession or two and help themselves out tremendously.
Convert third downs
Indiana is ranked ninth in the country in third-down conversion percentage (49.1%), and continuing that success would be crucial for its chances to win the game.
They will have a challenging task in doing so, as Ohio State ranks inside the top 20 in defensive 3rd down conversion percentage (31.2%).
The chess match between Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan and Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles will be a fun matchup throughout the game.
Win the turnover battle
Indiana’s turnover margin is +10 this season, while Ohio State’s is +4. The Hoosiers baiting Ohio State quarterback Will Howard into a couple of interceptions could potentially secure the upset.
Indiana’s lead interception man, Amare Ferrell, will more than likely shadow Ohio State’s star receiver, Jeremiah Smith, and that matchup will be a battle all game long.
