Ohio State overcame a largely ineffectual passing offense by using the quarterback run game in the Buckeyes' 38-17 win over Indiana. Other than the occasional bear front, the Hoosiers largely stuck with its 4-3 over defense, rotating between quarters, quarter-quarter-half, and man coverage. Indiana frequently brought its field linebacker off the edge and rolled a safety up on run action.

The simplest explanation for Ohio State’s passing problems was that J.T. Barrett was off. Concededly, although Barrett hit Noah Brown early on slant and shallow routes, such quick routes were few and far between thereafter.

Yet Barrett was off with both his reads and accuracy. As he admitted after the game, he again refused to take the open underneath routes. For instance, below he does not get the ball to Curtis Samuel out of his break.