Ohio State Buckeyes at Indiana Hoosiers

Injuries noted

Ohio State Buckeyes: Austin Siereveld (out) — Starting offensive lineman ruled out against Indiana with a non-football illness.; Ja'Kobi Jackson (out) — Running back ruled out after a foot injury against Maryland.; Leroy Roker III (out) — Rotational safety listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified.; Khmari Bing (out) — Safety listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified.; Amari Valerio-Hudson (out) — Wide receiver listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified.; Jaxon Powell (out) — Offensive lineman listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified.; Anthony Rogers (out) — Running back nicknamed Turbo downgraded to out Friday for Indiana; condition unspecified.; Brock Boyd (doubtful) — Freshman wide receiver listed doubtful against Indiana; condition unspecified.; Brenten Jones (questionable) — Walk-on defensive back nicknamed Inky listed questionable against Indiana; condition unspecified.

Indiana Hoosiers: Khobie Martin (doubtful) — Running back listed doubtful for Ohio State in the October 16 preview's Thursday availability update; recovering from a broken forearm sustained in Week 1.; Andrew Barker (out) — Tight end listed out in the October 16 preview's Thursday availability update. This conflicts with the questionable designation in the October 14 initial report; a definitive game-day resolution was not retrieved.

QUARTERBACK

• Julian Sayin is OSU's projected starter

  10.87 Y/A

  Julian Sayin is OSU's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game preview explicitly lists Sayin among the projected starters for October 17; this establishes a projection, not a confirmed game-day lineup. 2026 line: 1772 passing yards, 71.2% completions, 10.87 yards per attempt, 17-2 TD-INT over 6 games.

• Josh Hoover is IU's projected starter

  10.57 Y/A

  Josh Hoover is IU's projected starting quarterback. The October 16 game preview explicitly lists Hoover among the projected starters for October 17; this establishes a projection, not a confirmed game-day lineup. 2026 line: 1364 passing yards, 68.2% completions, 10.57 yards per attempt, 17-0 TD-INT over 6 games.

TRENCHES

• IU: 222.2 rushing yards per game to OSU's 163.8

  58.3 YPG

  Indiana runs for more than Ohio State, and this is no fluke: Indiana was at 212.9 last season and Ohio State at 154.4, so both are close to who they were. This game pits Indiana's ground-first identity at home against an Ohio State team that runs less. If Indiana can keep running, it shortens the game and limits Ohio State's possessions, which matters when thinking about the total and the underdog margin.

TURNOVERS

• IU: 0.17 turnovers committed per game to OSU's 1

  0.83 TO

  Indiana has turned it over just 0.17 times per game through 6 games, while Ohio State is at 1. Indiana was careful last season too at 0.5 over 16 games, so the ball security is real, though a rate this low tends to rise. Ohio State at 0.79 last season has been a bit looser, and in a game between strong teams, the side less likely to gift possessions carries an edge at home.

MISMATCH

• OSU: 337.8 pass yards a game to IU's 241.3

  337.8 VS 241.3

  Ohio State throws for 337.8 yards a game over six games, up from 268.2 last season. Indiana is at 241.3, almost exactly its 239.1 from a year ago, so its passing looks steady. Ohio State's jump is large but it came from a strong base, so a high number should mostly hold. Indiana needs to keep Ohio State's offense off the field with its own sustained drives.

REPLACEMENT

• Austin Siereveld (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Starting offensive lineman ruled out against Indiana with a non-football illness. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Ja'Kobi Jackson (RB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Running back ruled out after a foot injury against Maryland. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Leroy Roker III (S) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Rotational safety listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Khmari Bing (S) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Safety listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Amari Valerio-Hudson (WR) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Wide receiver listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Jaxon Powell (OL) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Offensive lineman listed out against Indiana; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Anthony Rogers (RB) is out for OSU

  OUT

  Running back nicknamed Turbo downgraded to out Friday for Indiana; condition unspecified. Ohio State Injury Report: Austin Siereveld and Ja’Kobi Jackson Out, Brock Boyd Doubtful vs. Indiana; Five Other Starters Returning to Action (2026-10-16)

• Andrew Barker (TE) is out for IU

  OUT

  Tight end listed out in the October 16 preview's Thursday availability update. This conflicts with the questionable designation in the October 14 initial report; a definitive game-day resolution was not retrieved. Game preview: IU football set to host Ohio State in historic clash (2026-10-16) Initial Availability Report for Indiana-Ohio State Game (2026-10-14)

SITUATIONAL

• OSU: 337.8 team passing yards per game to IU's 241.3

  96.5 YPG

  OSU is at 337.8 team passing yards per game over 6 games; IU is at 241.3 over 6 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 16. Last season OSU was at 268.2 over 14 games and IU at 239.1 over 16 games.

• No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Indiana

  #4 VS #5

  These two are nearly even in the eyes of voters: Ohio State has 1508 points and Indiana has 1461, and Indiana is the one holding a first-place vote. Indiana is 6-0 and rose two spots, while Ohio State is 5-1 and moved up one. The 4 and 5 rankings undersell how close this looks, and Indiana is at home. Bettors should price this as a coin-flip kind of matchup rather than lean on the brand name.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: OSU 3-0, IU 3-0 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. OSU is 3-0 against it, IU is 3-0. 2026 standings through 2026-10-17.