5 plays that did not shorten my life expectancy in Ohio State’s 19-15 win over Indiana

October 18, 2026

Ohio State’s 19-15 victory over Indiana on October 17 was a hard-fought, chaotic affair that left more questions than answers for the Buckeyes. The win came despite a series of costly mistakes, including a controversial out-of-bounds call on Indiana’s Nick Marsh that robbed the Hoosiers of a potential game-winning touchdown.

The Buckeyes’ defense stepped up when their offense faltered, with Jay Timmons delivering a standout performance—sealing the game with a forced fumble on Indiana’s opening second-half drive. Timmons, returning from injury, made seven tackles and broke up two passes, while also punching the ball out of Indiana’s hands to keep their offense off balance.

The Buckeyes’ offense, however, suffered a major setback when starting quarterback Julian Sayin went down with a shoulder injury after being sacked by Indiana’s Mario Landino and fumbling the ball. Sayin’s absence will now sideline him for several weeks, adding to the uncertainty ahead of Ohio State’s grueling schedule over the next six weeks.

Meanwhile, Jeremiah Smith continued his dominance, scoring a fourth-down touchdown to extend Ohio State’s lead and tying the Big Ten record for career receiving touchdowns with his 38th. His 38-yard grab from Sayin put the Buckeyes up 19-7, though Indiana would narrow the gap before the final whistle.