Photos as Ohio State wins season opener at Indiana
BLOOMINGTON, Ind — Ohio State saw what’s it like to have to replace key players in important positions, and yet, it still found a way to win.
The No. 3 Buckeyes beat Indiana 23-3 in a Big Ten East Division game to start the season. Ohio State started off a season for the first time in two years with a new starting quarterback on opening day. Redshirt sophomore Kyle McCord didn’t have the prettiest day in his second start — 20-33, 239 yards and an interception — but he was efficient and moved the chains.
Running back Miyan Williams found the endzone twice Saturday on runs of seven and three yards. He along with TreVeyon Henderson and Chip Trayanum combined for 129 rushing yards on 27 carries. The Buckeyes high-flying wide receiver core was kept in check Saturday but that doesn’t mean they weren’t open.
Three new offensive linemen and a brand new quarterback with minimal experience missed some windows, let in some pressure and forced some throws. Tight end Cade Stover led the Buckeyes with receiving yards (96) and Julian Fleming was not far behind him with 58 yards.
Offensively, redshirt freshman kicker Jayden Fielding had a perfect day going 2-2 on PATs and three successfully made field goals. Fielding, announced the starter on Tuesday heading into Indiana, hit a 40-yarder to end the first half.
Ohio State defensively looked like the veteran unit it is. Linebacker Steele Chambers led the Buckeyes in tackles with six, followed by Tyleik Williams at five and then six tied at four.
Sophomore Hero Kanu had one sack for Ohio State. Defensive backs Malik Hartford, Denzel Burke and Josh Proctor each had a pass breakup.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was pointed in his comments about the performance in his post-game press conference.
“When you look at those games, you just have to get the first win,” Day said. “And that’s really what you need to do. And then you identify it, because there’s just unknowns when you have guys who are starting for the first time and then you can kind of identify and grow from there. So the goal is to win the first game, you know, you don’t need to play your best football in the first game of the year. But you have to grow from it, you have to make sure that win’s under your belt because you know, a few weeks, nobody cares, the win’s a win, and then you move on.
“But the goal is to get it and then we have to grow immediately after.”
Ohio State (1-0) heads back to Columbus for week two in Ohio Stadium where it hosts Youngstown State in its home opener. Before that happens, however, Lettermen Row compiled a few photos from the Buckeyes’ win over the Hoosiers.
