BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – By now, you've seen the flashy plays that made the highlights of Ohio State's 23-3 victory over Indiana in its season opener.
(In truth, there were fewer of those than the Buckeyes usually have. It was more of a slog than a coming-out party.)
But in a game with 121 snaps, many plays that proved important are overlooked. The idea behind this story, which is intended to be a weekly exercise in games that warrant it, is to highlight those kinds of plays.
Here are five from Saturday:
1. Indiana penalty early vs. Ohio State costly
The first came on the opening possession of the game. Indiana wanted to sustain a possession to build confidence in its suspect offense and keep the Buckeyes' offense off the field. An 11-yard gain on second down set up a third-and-1 from the IU 34 yard-line. But Indiana tight end Bradley Archer committed a false-start penalty, forcing IU into a third-and-6.
There's a huge difference between third-and-1 and third-and-6, especially for IU. On that snap, OSU linebacker Steele Chambers tackled Josh Henderson after a 3-yard gain to force a Hoosiers punt. Ohio State got possession and drove 80 yards for the only points it would need.
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2. Ryan Day's decision to go for it on 4th down with Gee Scott Jr. pays off
On that OSU touchdown drive, the Buckeyes faced a fourth-and-2 from the Indiana 34. On third down, TreVeyon Henderson was stuffed for no gain, an issue for the offensive line all game.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day decided to go for it on fourth down, which was no surprise considering it would have been a 51-yard field goal attempt for Jayden Fielding. Instead of a run play, the Buckeyes chose to throw to backup tight end Gee Scott Jr. Scott is a former wide receiver and looked the part in catching a 10-yard pass from Kyle McCord. Two plays later, OSU scored on a 7-yard run by Miyan Williams.
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3. Ohio State safety Josh Proctor shows up at the right time
With 42 seconds left in the first half, Indiana had a fourth-and-4 at the OSU 39. IU quarterback Tayven Jackson threw to Dequece Carter, who was covered by OSU safety Josh Proctor. The sixth-year senior broke up the pass. It was a particularly significant play because Proctor began last season as a starter, only to be benched after missing a tackle on a pass play early against Notre Dame that went for a big play.
Lathan Ransom replaced him and held the job for the rest of the year. It was a surprise when Proctor elected to return to Ohio State for an extra year, and he battled Syracuse transfer Ja'Had Carter and freshman Malik Hartford throughout training camp for the job. He found out only Friday that he would start. Proctor played well, with that play probably the most important.
4. Marvin Harrison Jr. injury only momentary
The very next play might have been the most significant of the game. McCord threw deep along the right sideline to Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison was unable to make a circus catch and landed hard on his shoulder. He stayed down for several seconds. For OSU, it conjured painful memories of the injury Jaxon Smith-Njigba sustained early in last year's Notre Dame game. That hamstring injury ruined Smith-Njigba's season.
Losing Harrison, considered the best receiver in the country, would have been equally devastating. But he got up and returned a couple of plays later.
The IU defender on the play, Jamari Sharpe, was called for taunting Harrison after the play, giving OSU a first down. The Buckeyes would kick a field goal for a 10-3 halftime lead.
5. Kyle McCord's near turnover could have shifted momentum
On that drive, Ohio State was fortunate that a potential fumble was ruled an incompletion. McCord was hit as he threw by IU's Jacob Mangum-Farrar. The ball squirted forward and Indiana recovered the ball as the officials let the play unfold. Then they huddled and ruled it an incompletion. After a replay review, the call stood. It was close enough to a fumble that it might have stood if the officials had ruled it that way on the field. A turnover there would have been a major momentum shift entering halftime.
