Much has been made about the stakes for unbeaten Indiana in Saturday's top-five showdown with Ohio State. Don't forget what this game means for the Buckeyes. Ohio State hasn't won a Big Ten championship, let alone play in the title game, since 2020.
That also was the last time the Buckeyes made the College Football Playoff. Ohio State has had its last three seasons ruined by Michigan in the final regular-season game. Imagine the noise in Columbus if Indiana is the spoiler this year.
With a one-point loss at Oregon on this season's ledger, the Buckeyes had no margin for error in the games that followed against Nebraska, Penn State, Purdue and Northwestern. “You lose any of those games and you're out," Day said. Now comes Indiana, a team that hasn’t beaten Ohio State since 1988.
This, however, isn't your father's Indiana. First-year coach Curt Cignetti has led what could be a turnaround for the ages if the Hoosiers beat Ohio State. “Yeah," Day said, "our guys are fired up for this one and know this is a must win for us.
" Win Saturday, and “The Game” against Michigan next week becomes the next must-win game. The picks for FBS vs. FBS games, with Associated Press Top 25 rankings and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook: It's put-up-or-shut-up time for Indiana.
Except for their last game against Michigan, the unbeaten Hoosiers have breezed through a lineup of unranked opponents. Pick: Ohio State 31-24. Texas should be careful to not look ahead to next week's showdown with No.
15.