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Ohio State football: 5 reasons the Buckeyes will beat Indiana

By Alec Hartman

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeye players run onto the field prior to the start of the game during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Ohio State Buckeye players run onto the field prior to the start of the game during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 8: Quarterback J.T. Barrett
COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 8: Quarterback J.T. Barrett /

4. The Hoosiers have no answer for J.T. Barrett

One thing that the Bucks may not be appreciated enough for is their annual prowess at the quarterback position in the Big Ten. One of the main reasons for that is J.T. Barrett.

The Buckeyes may not be lighting up the scoreboard every week through the air but they are certainly efficient when they decide to do so. Barrett has finished no worse than fifth in the Big Ten in passing efficiency. This includes his freshman season where he led the Big Ten in passing efficiency.

Last season, the Hoosiers ranked sixth in the Big Ten in sacks. This is a solid number and only figures to get better considering their defense is returning many experienced players especially on the front line.

However, the Hoosiers ranked ninth in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed which could translate to an inability to slow down Barrett as a ball carrier. Barrett ran wild last season against the Hoosiers as he racked up 137 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Barrett’s big rushing day en route to the Buckeyes’ 21 point victory says more than what is displayed on the scoreboard. The Hoosiers should be even more afraid of the fact that the Bucks won by that much even with Barrett having a very sub-par outing through the air.

The Bucks found a way to coast to a comfortable win in a game that saw Barrett hardly complete 40 percent of his passes for only 93 yards, a touchdown, and a pick. That stat line alone says it all for why the Hoosiers will be in for a rude awakening on Thursday. It would be very hard to imagine Barrett coming out in the opener of his senior season and getting remotely close to repeating that poor passing performance.

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