The rematch college football fans have waited for all year arrives Saturday in Bloomington, where Ohio State visits Indiana in a game that will likely decide the favorite for the Big Ten championship. The Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes in last year's Big Ten title game and went on to win the College Football Playoff national championship, and now Ohio State gets its shot at revenge on the road.
According to Yahoo Sports, which published predictions from its Buckeyes Wire writers on Oct. 17, oddsmakers expect a tight one. Ohio State is listed as a very modest favorite, and USA Today's sportsbook wire pegs the Buckeyes at just 3.5 points, with the moneyline at -144 for Ohio State.
Why This Game Matters Beyond Bloomington
For Iowa fans, this game carries real weight in the Big Ten race. The winner positions itself as the conference favorite, while the loser suddenly has work to do to claw back into contention. Every result in Bloomington ripples through the standings the Hawkeyes share, and a Hoosiers win would keep Indiana's dream of a repeat conference title alive.
It also shapes the College Football Playoff picture. Indiana proved last season that a Big Ten champion can run the table, and Ohio State entered the year with championship expectations of its own. Saturday's loser doesn't fall out of the race entirely, but the path gets a lot harder.
What the Buckeyes Wire Writers Predict
The Buckeyes Wire staff split on the outcome, with two of three writers picking Ohio State and one backing Indiana at home.
Phil Harrison: Buckeyes by a Field Goal
Lead writer and editor Phil Harrison argued that Indiana's close calls against Northwestern and Nebraska, the only quality opponents the Hoosiers have faced, show this year's team is not the same one that won the national title.
One game can be an exception, but two is a pattern, Harrison wrote. He said the Indiana offense has not been as dynamic and the defense is not creating negative plays at last season's rate.
He still expects a nail-biter, predicting Ohio State 27, Indiana 24, with the Buckeyes doing most of their damage through the air.
Mark Russell: Late Score Seals It for Ohio State
Featured writer Mark Russell focused on the matchup in the trenches. Ohio State has struggled at times to protect quarterback Julian Sayin, and Indiana's pass rush is the best in the Big Ten, according to his analysis.
Russell flagged the injury to offensive lineman Austin Sierveld as the biggest concern for the Buckeyes. But he believes that if the line keeps Sayin clean, the quarterback will have time to attack a suspect Indiana secondary.
His prediction: Ohio State 27, Indiana 17, with the Buckeyes getting a late score to seal it in a hostile road environment.
Alec Lasley: Hoosiers Hold Serve at Home
Featured writer Alec Lasley went the other way. He expects Ohio State to come out fast, and he noted that slow starts have been a recurring problem for Indiana this season.
If the Buckeyes can't get going early, Lasley wrote, the pressure falls on the Sayin-to-Smith passing connection, and that is when the Hoosiers defense is at its best. He also pointed to Indiana's come-from-behind win last week as a sign the team knows how to finish.
His prediction: Indiana 24, Ohio State 17, with the Hoosiers limiting the explosive plays that fuel the Buckeyes offense.
The Vegas View
The betting market sides, barely, with the Buckeyes. According to