College Football Week 13 preview highlights how Ohio State-Indiana will significantly impact the College Football Playoff (CFP) landscape. This anticipated match promises not only thrilling action but also crucial playoff implications.
Fans should prepare for an exciting showdown.
The No. 5-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, coached by Curt Cignetti, will risk their perfect season against the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, led by Will Howard and Jeremiah Smith. The game kicks off at Noon ET on FOX, also available on the FOX Sports App.
This contest is not just pivotal for the CFP; it also holds substantial stakes for the Big Ten Championship Game. Both Ohio State and Indiana are vying for a spot in the conference title match, alongside Oregon. If Indiana manages to defeat Ohio State, a championship clash against Oregon awaits.
What must the No. 5-ranked Hoosiers do to upset No. 2 Ohio State?
For Indiana to triumph, its leading players must excel. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke needs to maintain his impressive efficiency, boasting 21 touchdown passes against only four interceptions. Running backs Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton must uphold their impressive average of six yards per carry, contributing to their nearly 1,200 rushing yards this season. The defense, anchored by standout players like Mikail Kamara (15 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks), Amare Ferrell (4 interceptions), and Aiden Fisher (98 tackles), must rise to the occasion against Ohio State’s formidable offense.
On the other hand, what strategies will Ohio State employ to neutralize Indiana’s dynamic offense and secure another top-five victory?
RJ: The Buckeyes will rely heavily on their cornerbacks, Denzel Burke and Davison Igbinosun, to deliver strong performances. Burke, in particular, has faced scrutiny for not meeting expectations in recent games, making him a target for opposing offenses since Ohio State’s loss to Oregon. Igbinosun has also faced challenges, leading the team in defensive penalties.
Ohio State’s defense has been particularly stingy, allowing minimal scoring in the latter half of the season. After conceding 32 points to Oregon, they have permitted only 31 points across their last four outings, including a shutout against No. 4 Penn State.
Players like Jack Sawyer, JT Tuimoloau, Ty Hamilton, Burke, Jordan Hancock, and Lathan Ransom are eager to showcase their skills in this high-stakes matchup. Rourke has been sacked only ten times this season and has thrown a mere four interceptions. Therefore, Ohio State’s elite defense must put pressure on him from the start.
RJ: It’s a close call. Both quarterbacks, Rourke from Ohio and Howard from Kansas State, have led their previous teams to conference championships. They share similar statistics this season, each completing around 72% of their passes and boasting comparable touchdown-to-interception ratios (Howard with 24:5 and Rourke with 21:4). Each has demonstrated the ability to effectively distribute the ball to their offensive playmakers.
Is the loser of this game still worthy of a College Football Playoff spot?
RJ: Absolutely. If the losing team can win their remaining games, it will be challenging to argue against their case for an at-large berth in the CFP. The intrigue lies in how the rankings will adjust for the team that loses this crucial match. An 11-win Big Ten team is precisely what the CFP aimed to accommodate. The possibility that this team could be Indiana adds an unexpected twist to the 2024 college football season.
Laken: It’s quite possible, as long as both teams secure victories in their final regular-season games (Ohio State faces Michigan while Indiana meets Purdue).
If Indiana falls to Ohio State but defeats Purdue, they will finish with an impressive 11-1 record, making it hard to deny an 11-1 Big Ten team a playoff spot. Conversely, if Ohio State loses to Indiana but beats Michigan, they would conclude with a 10-2 record. While this may drop them in the rankings and create a competitive situation with other two-loss SEC teams, the committee holds the Buckeyes in high regard. Their two losses would be to then-No. 3 Oregon and then-No. 5 Indiana, making it difficult for them to be excluded from playoff consideration.
