WATCH: Indiana Safety Phillip Dunnam Picks Off Ohio State QB on 4th Down
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana safety Phillip Dunnam picked off Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord on a crucial 4th & 2 early in the second quarter.
The Buckeyes led 7-0, and were once again driving in Hoosier territory. Coach Ryan Day went for the kill shot, sending his offense back out there in hopes of a short conversion, rather than opting for the field goal.
Ohio State went to play action, only for its offensive design to go haywire right away. McCord's original intended receiver tripped and fell to the turf early on his route, leading the redshirt sophomore quarterback to throw across his body in hopes of a completion.
That's when Dunnam, Indiana's true sophomore safety, burst across the middle of the field the team's first takeaway of the 2023 season. Dunnam also returned the interception for a couple of extra yards.
Dunnam stepped up as a playmaker for IU when the team desperately needed him. Roughly one-third of the way through the game, the Indiana offense had nothing going, and needed a spark.
The takeaway immediately led to Indiana offense's best drive of the game to that point. Quarterback Tayven Jackson led the Hoosiers to the Buckeyes' 26-yard line, and kicker Chris Freeman knocked in a 43-yard field goal off the right upright to make it a 7-3 game in favor of Ohio State.
All fall camp, defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri stressed the need for the Indiana defense to get back to its turnover-forcing ways. Nearly halfway through Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium, it was Phillip Dunnam who answered that call.
