Off the Cuff: It’s time for the Buckeyes to take back control of the Big Ten

First of all, I am extremely impressed with what Curt Cignetti has done with the Indiana Hoosiers football program. Their meteoric rise to the top of the college football world is something I've never seen before in the sport. Whether you're an Indiana fan or not, what they have done in such a short time is incredibly admirable.

Once the Buckeyes were knocked out of the College Football Playoff last year, I rooted for Indiana. My Uncle went there in the 90s. My cousin is a current student there.

Those family connections, combined with the incredible story the Hoosiers have been in college football the last two-plus years, are why I rooted for them in the Playoff last year. Before 2024, I never thought Indiana would win the national championship in college football.

That said, this offseason I've had a recurring feeling that Ohio State is looking up at Indiana in the Big Ten and nationally. It's a weird feeling.

Looking up at Indiana. Not Michigan, or Penn State, or any other historic Big Ten powerhouse. The Buckeyes are trying to unseat Indiana. Keep in mind, last year the Hoosiers beat the Buckeyes for the first time since 1988. This is Ohio State looking up at Indiana on the Big Ten and college football throne. Weird, right?

It's time for the Buckeyes to take back control of the Big Ten.

Since 2024, Oregon and Indiana have won the Big Ten. Oregon joined the Big Ten in 2024 and won the conference in their first season, and Indiana… well, they were irrelevant before Cignetti arrived in Bloomington.

Michigan winning three straight Big Ten titles is one thing, but seeing a Big Ten newcomer and Indiana win the next two Big Ten titles? That shouldn't sit well with any Ohio State fan.

That's why Saturday is an opportunity for the Buckeyes to take back control of the Big Ten. Go into Indiana and make a statement that their time is done atop the conference. It's been six years since Ohio State won the B1G Championship.

So much has happened since then. What if Ohio State goes into Bloomington and makes an absolute statement against the reigning national champions?

Indiana is not as dominant as they were last year. This is a really good Hoosiers team, but they're not as great as last year's team. They have been playing with their food way too much in Big Ten play.

The Hoosiers barely beat Northwestern at home, and they trailed Nebraska 17-6 early in the fourth quarter last week. Not to mention, they only led Western Kentucky 7-0 late in the first half in Week 3.

Statistically, the Hoosiers are similar, if not better, than last year in every yardage category on both sides of the ball. They've regressed in time of possession and third-down conversions. That's where Ohio State can have an advantage, especially if they're able to run the ball on offense and shut down the running game on defense.

One thing Ohio State will have to do Saturday is turn Indiana over. Josh Hoover has not thrown an interception this season. The Hoosiers have only lost one fumble. One turnover through six games. That's incredible.

But again, it just feels like the Hoosiers haven't been as dominant as they were last year. Last year, they won only three Big Ten games, including the Big Ten Championship, by one score. This year, they've already had to win two Big Ten games by one score.

Meanwhile, Ohio State has handled each of their first three Big Ten opponents by at least 17 points. They've won their first three Big Ten games by an average of 23 points. Indiana has won their first three games by an average of 13.7 points per game.

Even without Austin Siereveld and Ja'Kobi Jackson on Saturday, I still think the Buckeyes can run the ball. If they can, that will set up deep shot opportunities for Jeremiah Smith. One deep shot alone may change this game.

Plus, the Buckeyes know what happened in Indianapolis last year. They want revenge. Even if they don't say it, this game means more to them than every other game besides Michigan. That matters going into Saturday.

Revenge will be served. It's time for the Buckeyes to take back control of the Big Ten.

Game Prediction: Buckeyes 34 — Hoosiers 24