QUARTERBACKS
OSU - Braxton Miller continues to impress for the Ohio State Buckeyes. His season total is now at 763 yards rushing (127.2 per game) and 1,060 passing (176.7 per game). He had a touchdown each way last week against Nebraska. Probably one of the biggest plays that happened last week was just before the half, when Miller used a draw play on fourth and 2 and converted it into a 31-yard touchdown.
IU - Indiana is coming off a heartbreaker against Michigan State, but quarterback Cameron Coffman did all he could. The sophomore passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns against the Spartans. Coffman took over the offense after Tre Roberson went down with an injury during the second week of the season. The junior college transfer this year has 801 yards passing and has thrown for six touchdowns. He's not a runner, so the Buckeye secondary will be put to work.
EDGE - OSU
RUNNING BACKS
OSU - Miller led the running attack again last week with 186 yards, but Carlos Hyde was right behind him, rushing 28 times for 140 yards and four touchdowns - career high. Hyde's performance earned him conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. If the running game can be balanced like that every week, defense will have a hard time stopping them. Also, Rod Smith got into the mix last week with two carries for 38 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Hall is back in the lineup this week.
IU - The Hoosiers are definitely a pass first team. Total, Indiana has rushed for 831 yards this season (166.2 per game). Stephen Houston is the leading rusher with 52 carries for 277 yards this season and four touchdowns. Tevin Coleman and D'Angelo Roberts each have 177 yards.
EDGE - OSU
RECEIVERS
OSU - With Ohio State being able to do so much on the ground last week, the passing was limited. Jeff Heuerman had two catches for 53 yards and Corey "Philly" Brown had three catches for 35 yards. But don't expect the Buckeyes to become an all-run team. The Hoosiers are giving up 246 yard per game in the air, so expect Ohio State to be taking advantage of that.
IU - Shane Wynn leads the receiving corps for the Hoosiers. Last week against the Spartans, he had 12 catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. That brings his season total to 28 catches for 213 yards. Cody Latimer adds 363 yards this season and two touchdowns. Behind him is Kofi Hughes with 248 yards on 16 catches. This is definitely the strength of the Hoosier team.
EDGE - Even
OFFENSIVE LINE
OSU - With the offense being as potent as it has been, averaging 431.5 yards per game, the offensive line has obviously been doing its job on leading the offense and letting the plays develop. The only glaring thing that pops out is that Miller has been sacked 16 times. Being a mobile quarterback means he's going to get sacked, but the line could tighten up a bit.
IU - The line has protected the quarterbacks fairly well this season, allowing 10 sacks in five games. However, the line is very young. The only senior in the group is center Will Matte. He's surrounded by freshman and sophomores. Last week, the Hoosiers saw a tough defense from the Spartans, and now this week they will face John Simon and Company for the Buckeyes.
EDGE - OSU
DEFENSIVE LINE
OSU - Two words: John Simon. The Cardinal Mooney graduate was an absolute beast against Nebraska. The senior had five tackles for loss against the Cornhuskers and two sacks. He earned The College Football Performance Awards National Defensive Player of the Week and its National Defensive Lineman of the Week. He is now the first Buckeye ever to have a five tackles for loss game and a four tackles for loss game in his career. After starting off the season struggling a bit, this is the Simon Buckeyes fans know.
IU - The Hoosier defensive line is allowing 194.8 yards per game, which could mean good things for the Ohio State offense. Last week against Michigan State, Le'Veon Bell, one of the best rushers in the Big Ten put up 121 yards and two touchdowns against the line. Facing Bell one week, then Miller and Hyde the next could be a difficult task for the Hoosiers. Defensive tackle Adam Repolgle leads the team with 36 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
EDGE - OSU
LINEBACKERS
OSU - The biggest blow after the Nebraska game is that Etienne Sabino will miss at least four games after fracturing a bone in his right leg. In his place, Joshua Perry will get the start. Luckily for the Buckeyes, they still have Ryan Shazier in the linebacking corps. Shazier added another 11 tackles to his stats this year and is currently third in the Big Ten with 59 tackles.
IU - Middle linebacker David Cooper also has a team-leading 36 tackles. In all, the Hoosier defense allows more than 400 yards per game, and the only team they have faced that has been in the upper echelon of the conference has been Michigan State. With as well as the Buckeyes' offense has been playing, it could be a long day for the unit who has to protect the middle, which is wear Miller can be his most lethal.
EDGE - OSU
DEFENSIVE BACKS
OSU - While most people would say the secondary is still the biggest area the Buckeyes' defense needs to improve on, the unit is leading the Big 10 with 10 interceptions and sixth in pass efficiency defense. Bradley Roby had a huge game against Nebraska, picking off two passes and adding another breakup. Indiana likes to pass, so the backs will get a work out on Saturday.
IU - The Indiana secondary has three interceptions on the season and 26 pass breakups. Safety Mark Murphy has 29 tackles this season and Brian Williams has 28 tackles and one interception. Though Ohio State will probably lead more toward a rushing game, the secondary can't forget about the likes of Brown and Devin Smith for the Buckeyes, who have big-play capabilities.
EDGE - OSU
SPECIALISTS
OSU - Finally, Ohio State had a big play on special teams. In the third quarter against Nebraska, Corey Brown returned a punt for 76 yards and broke open the game. It was a play that Nebraska couldn't bounce back from. Again, kicker Drew Basil needed to do nothing more than kick extra points for the Buckeyes and punter Ben Buchanan averaged 43.8 yards on four punts.
IU - Kicker Mitch Ewald is 5 of 8 on field goals this season, with his long being 46 yards. Punter Mitchell Voss is only averaging 37.2 yards per punt this season, but has pinned opponents inside the 20 a total of eight times. Coleman has returned a kickoff for the Hoosiers this season for 96 yards.
EDGE - Even
PREDICTION
The Ohio State offense looked unstoppable against Nebraska. If the unit keeps playing at this level, it will be hard for many teams in the Big 10 to stop them. The defense stepped up last week, and the Nebraska offense is no slouch. Indiana is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State. The Spartans rallied back from a 17-point deficit to beat the Hoosiers on Homecoming. The Buckeyes are playing too well to let this game get away from them.
OSU, 48-20.
Twitter: @DanaSulonenTrib
