In a top 5 matchup that no one saw coming before the season started, The #2 Buckeyes play the #5 Indiana Hoosiers in Ohio Stadium in a must win game for the Buckeyes if they want to earn a rematch with #1 Oregon in the B1G Championship game. Let's take a look back at this 120 year old series and see "What Happened Before."
- The Buckeye's series with Indiana dates back to 1904 and spans 93 games, third most in a series for OSU with only Michigan (106) and Illinois (102) having played the Buckeyes more.
- The Buckeyes lead the series 80-9-4 with an average score of 29-11.
- OSU leads the series 20-2-1 when neither team was ranked, 46-3 when only OSU is ranked, 3-0 when both are ranked, and 0-0-1 when only Indiana is ranked.
- When the Buckeyes are in the top 5, they are 25-0 vs the Hoosiers.
- This is the first time in the series that Indiana is ranked in the top five at game time.
- The Buckeyes lead the series 50-7-3 at home, and lead 30-2-1 in Bloomington.
- Most points scored by OSU, 56 (3x, 1957, 1983, 2022). Largest margin of victory, OSU, 56 (56-0 in 1957).
- Most points scored by Indiana, 49 (52-49 loss in 2012). Largest margin of victory, Indiana, 34 (41-7 in 1988).
- The Buckeyes have shutout the Hoosiers 16 times, been shutout by them 5 times, and twice played to a scoreless tie (1929, 1959).
- The longest win streak for the Buckeyes in the series is the current win streak of 29 games from 1991-2023. Indiana's longest win streak is two games, done twice (1904-13 and 1987-88).
- Ryan Day is 5-0 vs Indiana. This is Curt Cignetti's first game against the Buckeyes as IU head coach.
Darkest Days 1 and 2 (1987-1988):
Darkest Day One (1987) ended with Indiana dominating the second half against the 9th rank (3-0-1) Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium. After being tied 10-10 at the half, the Hoosiers scored 21 second half points and outgained the Buckeyes 405-264, while forcing 3 TO's. Former Woody Hayes assistant Bill Mallory's Hoosiers dominated time of possession 36:47-23:13. Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, in his last season at OSU, called the loss "The Darkest Day in Ohio State football," as it had been 36 years since the last loss (there was a 0-0 tie in 1959) to the Hoosiers.
Darkest Day Two (1988) was all Indiana from the opening kick. The Hoosiers jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Quarterback Greg Frey threw 4 interceptions for first year coach John Cooper's Buckeyes. The Hoosiers outgained the Buckeyes 471-259. In the two games, Indiana tailback Anthony Thompson rushed for 310 yards and 5 touchdowns. They were indeed the Darkest Days in Ohio State history.
2012:
Urban Meyer took his first edition (#8, 6-0) into Bloomington, Indiana for a night game against future Meyer offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson's Hoosiers. The Braxton Miller led Buckeyes jumped out to an early 10-0 lead, only to see Indiana fight back to a 14-10 lead. But a Bradley Roby blocked punt for a touchdown and a 60 yard pass from Miller to Devin Smith gave the Bucks a 24-14 halftime lead. Miller added a 67 yard touchdown run and a 46 yard touchdown pass to Smith and the Buckeyes led 52-34 with 6:47 to play. But Indiana wasn't done. They scored with 1:40 to play, recovered and onside kick, scored again and went for and made the two point conversion to pull within 3 with 1:05 to play. Fortunately, the Buckeyes recovered the Hoosier's onside kick and were able to run out the clock. Urban's crew escaped with a hard fought win on it's way to an undefeated season.
