Ohio State football hosts Indiana on Saturday in college football’s top matchup of Week 13 — one with huge implications for the College Football Playoff.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) face undefeated, fifth-ranked Indiana (10-0, 7-0), with the winner likely facing No. 1 Oregon in the Big Ten championship game and locking up a College Football Playoff berth.
The matchup is Ohio State’s third this season against a top-five opponent after it fell 32-31 to No. 3 Oregon before beating No. 3 Penn State 20-13, both on the road. A win over the surprising Hoosiers would further bolster the Buckeyes’ already strong resume.
REQUIRED READING:Ohio State football preparing for biggest home test of the season vs. surprising Indiana
Indiana has been a revelation under first-year coach Curt Cignetti this season, as it already has a school-record 10 wins. The Hoosiers haven’t played a ranked team this season, but have certainly looked like one of the best teams in college football thus far.
Indiana is led by first-year Ohio transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who has 2,410 passing yards with 21 touchdowns to four interceptions this season.
Here’s how to watch Ohio State’s game against Indiana on Saturday, including time, TV channel and more how to watch information:
REQUIRED READING:Where was Ohio State ranked in the third College Football Playoff rankings?
Ohio State-Indiana will air live on Fox, with streaming options available on the Fox Sports app (with a valid TV login) or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers. Fox’s noon broadcasting crew of Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft will be on the call.
Ohio State-Indiana will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Nov. 23, from Ohio Stadium.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Thursday, Nov. 21
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 38, Indiana 24
Indiana is for real, its soft schedule notwithstanding. Its passing game will put stress on OSU’s cornerbacks and its defensive front will make running the ball a challenge. But Ohio State has a deeper, more talented roster and plenty of experience in playing in high-profile games. IU will land some blows, but the Buckeyes should prevail.
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State 34, Indiana 21
The reengineering of the Ohio State defense in the aftermath of last month’s loss at Oregon faces a true barometer test from Indiana, which brings the second-highest scoring offense in the nation to Columbus and is led by an experienced sixth-starting quarterback in Kurtis Rourke who keeps the Hoosiers on schedule. The challenge is for the secondary to hold up better than it did against Dillon Gabriel and his talented cast of playmakers six weeks ago. The ultimate bet here is that the Buckeyes’ big-game experience prevails against a team that has played only one opponent this year with a winning record compared to Ohio State’s four, including two who were in the top-five. That’ll make the difference in the second half.
Zach Osterman, The Indianapolis Star: Indiana 31, Ohio State 30
This might be the most fascinating IU football game I’ve ever covered. It’s certainly the most important. The Hoosiers have covered a lot of ground this season, and for the most part done so impressively. If their closer-than-expected win against Michigan exposed anything, it might be their lack of depth in key areas in games that are bound to be more physically challenging than the average. On the other hand, Curt Cignetti has had two weeks to prepare for this game, Indiana has a clean bill of health and while a lot of the conversation around this game has centered on pressure, I’m not sure IU feels it.
Here’s a look at Ohio State’s 2024 football schedule, including final results:
*Denotes Big Ten game
Here’s a look at Indiana’s 2024 football schedule, including final results:
* Denotes Big Ten game
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Terms apply, see operator site for Terms and Conditions. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call the National Council on Problem Gambling 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ, OH), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN). Must be 21 or older to gamble. Sports betting and gambling are not legal in all locations. Be sure to comply with laws applicable where you reside.
