Ohio State struggled but eventually pulled away from Indiana for the No. 1 Buckeyes’ 23-3 victory in the season opener in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday.
Miyan Williams rushed for two touchdowns with the second from 3-yards putting the Buckeyes ahead 20-3 late in the third quarter after the led 10-3 at halftime.
Jayden Fielding made all three field goals, including his second of 22 yards late in the fourth quarter to make it 23-3.
Kyle McCord, who won the starting job over Devin Brown, was 20 for 33 for 239 yards and an interception.
Brown played one series in the first half and the final drive for the Buckeyes. He was 1 for 3 for minus-2 yards.
Chip Trayanum rushed for 57 yards on eight carries, TreVeyon Henderson had 47 on 12 carries and Williams 25 for the Buckeyes.
Tight end Cade Stover led the Buckeyes with 98 yards on eight catches.
All-American receiver candidate Marvin Harrison Jr. had 18 yards on two receptions.
Brendan Sorsby was 8 for 16 for 58 yards and Trayven Jackson went 1 for 5 for 24 yards for the Hoosiers.
Ohio State has won 28 straight against the Hoosiers since a 27-all toe in 1990. Indiana’s last victory was in 1988.
Not In Control
The Buckeyes went 80 yards in 11 plays and 5:34 to take a 7-0 lead on their first series of the season after a defensive stop. Williams on his first touch went 7 yards after McCord was 3 for 4 for 28 yards, including a fourth-down conversion, and added 8 more yards on the ground.
Indiana started the opening drive from its 25 and faced a third-and-6 but the drive died when Steele Chambers stopped Josh Henderson 3 yards short after a catch.
Following a 56-yard punt by James Evans and an 8-yard return by Emeka Egbuka, the Buckeyes went to work from their 20. Henderson lost 2 yards on a run, Harrison made a catch for 9 before Henderson ripped off a 19-yard run.
Later in the drive, OSU had a fourth-and-2 from the IU 34 when McCord went to tight end Gee Scott Jr., for 10 yards. Chip Trayanum rushed for 17 before Williams scored and Jayden Fielding added the extra point at the 7:16 mark.
Early in the second quarter, the Buckeyes were denied on their second fourth-down try when, from the IU 29 and needing 2 yards, McCord’s pass across the middle was intercepted at the 22 by Phillipp Dunnam and returned 11 yards.
The energized Hoosier marched down the field with Camper gaining 24 yards on a catch and two plays later Christian Turner ran for 11 to the 27 for a first down.
Indiana came to the line on fourth-and-7 from the 24 but called timeout and Chris Freeman kicked a 42-yard field goal off the right upright to make it 7-3 with 7-3 with 6:15 left in the half.
Brown made his first appearance with 6:09 remaining in the fourth series. After two Williams runs for 9 yards, Brown rolled right and was caught for a 3-yard loss, forcing a 55-yard punt by Jesse Mirco that was returned 29 yards by Jaylin to the IU 42.
The Hoosiers ate up the clock and went for it on fourth-and-4 from the OSU 39, but Josh Proctor broke up a pass with 38 seconds left.
On the Buckeyes’ first play, a sideline pass to Harrison was incomplete. He landed on his shoulder and left the game for three plays. IU’s Jamari Sharpe was called for taunting, placing the ball on the Indiana 46.
Stover made a catch for 24 yards but three incompletions followed and Fielding made a 40-yard field goal with three seconds to go for a 10-3 halftime lead.
OSU had 172 total yards (94 passing, 78 rushing) in the first half to 88 (27 passing, 61 rushing) for the Hoosiers. McCord was 10-16 for 94 yards.
Second Half Sluggish
The Buckeyes went three-and-out to start the third quarter with McCord at the helm and a 22-yard punt return by Lucas put the ball on the 34 but the Hoosiers punted it back.
A pass interference call on a third-down pass to Harrison bailed out the Buckeyes and gave them a first down at the IU 48. Fleming on the next play had a 27-yard reception to the 21.
Henderson gained 2 and Stover hauled in a 9-yarder. Henderson went up the middle for 6 to the 4. After an incompletion and McCord’s keeper gained nothing and Fielding made a field goal from 22 for a 13-3 lead at 6:42 of the third quarter.
After a 60-yard punt, the Buckeyes drove 88 yards in six plays and 3:24, capped by Williams’ 3-yard score to make it 20-3 with 1:51 left in the quarter.
The big play was a 49-yard catch-and-run by Stover to the 24. McCord connected with Harrison for a touchdown but it was nullified because Harrison stepped out of bounds before returning for the catch. Trayanum, who earlier in the drive had a 14-yard run, had rushes of 12 and 9 before Williams’ TD.
A 16-yard catch for Trayanum and a 15-yard reception for freshman Carnell, the first of his career, paved the way for a 22-yard FG for Fielding with 4:26 to play after the Buckeyes squandered a first-and-goal from the 5, with McCord previously finding Williams for 12 yards on fourth-and-9.
