Buckeyes Overcome Slow Start, Escape Hoosiers Upset

The Ohio State Buckeyes escaped the Indiana Hoosiers with a week 1 win.

It isn't about how you start. It's about how you finish.

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (1-0, 1-0 Big Ten) overcame their first-half struggles to win 23-3 over the Indiana Hoosiers (0-1, 0-1 Big Ten) Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana. Ohio State's defense showed up and held Indiana to 153 yards of total offense.

Running back Miyan Williams was the beneficiary of two touchdown runs of 3 and 7 yards, respectively. Williams had 25 yards and two scores on seven carries, while Chip Trayanum led all ball-carriers with 57 yards on eight carries.

Head coach Ryan Day trotted out both quarterbacks Kyle McCord and Devin Brown Saturday, giving the former much more playing time than the latter.

McCord started 10-for-16 with 94 yards and an interception in the first half, while Brown had just one carry for a loss of three yards on a third-and-1 rushing attempt.

Brown's only work in the second half came on Ohio State's final drive in which he went 1-for-3 for -2 yards. McCord rounded out his day going 20-for-33 for 239 yards and an interception.

One of McCord's best throws of the day — a 24-yard completion for a would-be touchdown — was waived off for illegal touching after wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ran out of bounds and was the first player to touch the ball afterward. McCord completed a pass down the seam to tight end Cade Stover for 49 yards — the Buckeyes' longest play of the game — to set up Williams' second touchdown run.

Stover had five receptions for 98 yards and Julian Fleming hauled in six passes for 58 yards.

Indiana head coach Tom Allen experimented with two quarterbacks as well, playing both Brendan Sorsby and Tayven Jackson — the younger brother of Hoosiers basketball legend Trayce Jackson-Davis. Both were stymied by the Buckeyes' defense through the air, completing just 9 of 21 passes for 82 yards.

Hoosiers linebacker Aaron Casey was all over the field, leading all tacklers with 11 and one for loss on Saturday.

Ohio State's offense struggled on third down and in the red zone. The Buckeyes converted just 2 of 12 third downs while scoring touchdowns on half of their four red zone trips.

Ohio State is back in action against the Youngstown State Penguins Sept. 9 in the home opener at Ohio Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.