COLUMBUS, Ohio – Google it.
Ohio State posted the phrase on the scoreboard next to a photo of Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti the final minute of the team’s 38-15 win over the Hoosiers on Saturday.
There was nothing subtle about the post referencing the “Google me” quote that became Cignetti’s catchphrase.
While No. 5 Indiana (10-1; 7-1 Big Ten) could make the College Football Playoff roster, No. 2 Ohio State (10-1; 7-1 Big Ten) Ten) wanted to remind the Hoosiers he still had a way to go before claiming a spot atop the Big Ten.
It’s the same message OSU coach Ryan Day wanted to send by scoring a touchdown with 35 seconds left instead of the clock — even after running back TreVeyon Henderson. got to the 1 yard line – and why starting quarterback Will Howard pantomimed while putting out a cigarette on the side.
“I have a lot of respect for what they do and what coach Cignetti did there,” Howard said after the game. “They had a hell of a turnaround, but you have to remember you come to play the Buckeyes, it’s a little different.”
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Indiana football players who spoke to reporters after the game mostly agreed.
The consensus from the veteran group that included quarterback Kurtis Rourke, linebacker Aiden Fisher and running back Ty Son Lawton was that the Hoosiers failed to seize the moment with a sloppy performance that highlighted the gap between programs.
Indiana has now lost 30 straight games in the series dating back to 1988 and has an overall record of 12-80-5 against the Buckeyes.
“You have to be close to perfect to beat a team like this, and we’ll get a chance to play a lot of similar teams like this,” Rourke said. “So knowing we can’t make those mistakes and we have to be on our game the whole game.
Lawton, who had 15 carries for 79 yards with two touchdowns, had a more succinct way of summarizing the point.
“This loss was an eye opener for us,” Lawton said, shaking his head. “We still have work to do.”
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Cignetti pointed out how “loaded” the Buckeyes were on several occasions after the game, and their talent level had as much impact on the game as IU’s errors on special teams gaffes that yielded 14 points at OSU. to a series of pass protection failures.
Ohio State had eight former 5-star recruits in the starting lineup while the Hoosiers have none on their entire roster. Buckeyes signing classes have all ranked among the top five FBS teams in each of the last five seasonsaccording to 247 Sports.
Although they had a smaller transfer (seven signees), they still ranked 9th in the overall team transfer rankings. They signed three top-50 players available, including Alabama safety Caleb Downs, Ole Mademoiselle running back Quinshon Judkins and Kansas State quarterback Will Howard.
All three played pivotal roles in OSU’s victory – Downs had a punt return for a touchdown, Howard was near perfect with 201 yards (22 of 26) and two touchdowns and Jenkins had 16 touches .
“Maybe it was the opponent’s ability,” Cignetti said when asked about Ohio State’s withdrawal. “This is a good football team that went to Oregon and lost the last drive of the game because of a controversial offensive call by PI.”
The bottom line for Cignetti was that Ohio State was simply the better team on Saturday, and he wasn’t going to sugarcoat that.
“They won, they deserved to win,” he said. “They’re awesome.”
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana reporter for the Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on @michaelniziolek and read all of its coverage by clicking here.
This article was originally published in the Herald-Times: Indiana football: Why loss to OSU was an ‘eye-opener’ amid Hoosiers’ playoff push
