A look at IU football’s 2024 opponents: Week 11 — Ohio State

With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2024.

Curt Cignetti’s toughest road test of his first Big Ten slate doesn’t come until the penultimate game of the season, when IU takes on Ohio State. The Hoosiers kept things close with the Buckeyes in week one last season, but failed to capitalize on opportunities to put OSU on upset alert. Indiana will have a rest advantage for this game, coming off its second bye week of the season — Ohio State’s byes are in September and October.

Opponent: Ohio State
Date/Time/TV: Saturday, November 23, TBA
Location: Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
2023 record/postseason result: 11-2, 8-2 Big Ten, 14-3 loss to Missouri in Cotton Bowl Classic

Returning production, offense: 62 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (62nd in the country out of 134)

Offensive outlook: Ohio State led the Big Ten in total offense in 2023 for the eighth straight season. But by OSU’s standards, its offense was disappointing last year. The Buckeyes ranked 48th in the country with 407.9 yards per game — its lowest average since 2011. They were particularly pedestrian in the running game, at 138.9 yards per game (eighth in the Big Ten, 88th in the country). Those letdowns led to offseason changes. Head coach Ryan Day brought in Chip Kelly to take over offensive coordinator duties from Brian Hartline, who remains on staff as co-coordinator and wide receivers coach. And quarterback Kyle McCord transferred to Syracuse.

The Buckeyes now turn to Kansas State transfer Will Howard at quarterback. The graduate student brings a veteran presence at the position that OSU hasn’t had in a long time, and he should be an upgrade over McCord. At Kansas State last season, he completed 61.3 percent of his passes for 220.3 yards per game, with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 351 yards on 81 carries with nine touchdowns.

Ohio State lost three of its four leading receivers from last year — Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight end Cade Stover went to the NFL, and Julian Fleming transferred to Penn State. Redshirt junior slot receiver Emeka Egbuka returns, and he could be a high NFL Draft pick in 2025 if he posts numbers closer to his strong 2022 than last season’s step back. On the outside, sophomore Carnell Tate should step into a bigger role, and five-star freshman Jeremiah Smith — the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2024, per 247Sports — could make his impact felt quickly.

OSU’s backfield looks dangerous this year. Redshirt junior TreyVeon Henderson (156 carries, 926 yards, 11 touchdowns) is one of the top returning running backs in the Big Ten. And he’s now joined by junior Ole Miss transfer Quinshon Jenkins, who ranked second in the SEC last year with 1,158 rushing yards on 271 carries with 15 touchdowns. That duo could be one of the best in the country.

The Buckeyes have four offensive line starters back from last season, including All-Big Ten first team guard Donovan Jackson and third team tackle Josh Fryar. OSU also added center Seth McLaughlin from the transfer portal out of Alabama.

Returning production, defense: 68 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (68th in the country)

Defensive outlook: Jim Knowles’ defense was one of the best in the nation last year. Ohio State ranked third in the country — behind only Michigan and Penn State — in total defense, and only Michigan allowed fewer points per game than OSU. The Buckeyes also boasted the stingiest pass defense in the country, allowing just 145.9 passing yards per game. Their only real glaring flaw last season was a lack of takeaways, as they forced the fewest in the Big Ten; but at least some of that can be attributed to bad luck.

Matt Guerrieri rejoined OSU as safeties coach after spending 2023 in the same role with added defensive coordinator responsibilities at Indiana. He and Knowles have a loaded defense to work with this season.

The Buckeyes have nearly their entire starting defensive line group back from last season, including their top four leaders in tackles for loss. Redshirt juniors Jack Sawyer and Tyleik Williams — both All-Big Ten third team selections last year — tied for the team lead with 10 TFLs apiece. Sawyer also recorded a team-high 6.5 sacks. All-Big Ten first teamer JT Tuimoloau also returns.

OSU lost both of its starting linebackers from last year, but redshirt sophomore C.J. Hicks and graduate student Cody Simon are more than capable of filling those vacancies. Junior Sonny Styles started at safety last season, but switched to linebacker for this year, and he could be a factor as well.

In the secondary, Ohio State added the top-ranked player in the transfer portal this offseason, at any position: Alabama safety Caleb Downs (two interceptions, 3.5 TFLs, four pass breakups). Downs was the No. 8 overall player in the class of 2023, and he’ll give an already talented OSU secondary an extra jolt this year. All-Big Ten first team cornerback Denzel Burke (one interception, three TFLs, nine pass breakups, one forced fumble) is one of the top returning defensive backs in the conference. OSU also has returning starters in junior cornerback Davison Igbinosun and senior safety Lathan Ransom.

Special teams outlook: Junior kicker Jayden Fielding is back — he went 16 for 20 on field goals last year and 49 for 50 on extra points. OSU will have a new punter after Jesse Mirco transferred to Vanderbilt. Buffalo transfer Anthony Venneri, Australian sophomore Joe McGuire, or Australian freshman Nick McLarty could all have a shot at the job in fall camp. The Buckeyes lost primary kick returner Xavier Johnson, and don’t have a clear-cut choice to take over. Ohio State has its main punt returners back in Egbuka and redshirt junior Jayden Ballard, but could turn to a different option given its lack of explosiveness in the return game last year. Sophomore Brandon Inniss is a candidate, and Downs could be dangerous in that role.

Overall Outlook: Ohio State is one of the most complete teams in the Big Ten and the country this year. The Buckeyes could once again have one of the top defenses in the country, and even despite losing Harrison, their offense could be more dangerous than last year. A lot will depend on how well Howard adapts to Columbus and the Big Ten. But OSU is a deserved favorite to win the conference this year. Anything short of a College Football Playoff appearance this season would be a disappointment for the Buckeyes, and they are a legitimate threat to win a national championship.

Previous opponent outlooks:

Florida International

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