Indiana Defeats Ohio State As Execution Slides Across the Board

For several weeks, the vulnerabilities in No. 1 Ohio State's formidable performance were apparent yet overlooked, hidden beneath an exceptionally talented roster. However, during the Big Ten Championship on Saturday night, those vulnerabilities became evident as the Buckeyes faced a disappointing 13-10 defeat at the hands of No. 2 Indiana. A trio of offensive setbacks—questionable strategy, poor third-down conversions, and notable inefficiencies in the red zone—culminated in a significant loss, extending their conference title drought to five years.Despite boasting the nation's most dynamic roster, Ohio State (12-1) appeared disjointed and uncertain crucially. Head coach Ryan Day and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline drew immediate criticism for their seemingly conservative game plan against a disciplined Hoosiers defense. Statistics underscored their struggles to maintain offensive rhythm, with dismal third-down success rates and critical failures on fourth down stymieing momentum.“Very disappointed just overall with how we played,” stated Day post-defeat. The team managed just one touchdown from four red zone visits, often defaulting to field goals or failing on downs. Quarterback Julian Sayin moved the offense well until the field narrowed, revealing a lack of the creative play calling previously seen. The game's turning point emerged with under three minutes left when kicker Jayden...