The moment the box score hit X, one number silenced the noise: 151 total yards — Indiana’s lowest output of the season — against a defense that sacked Kurtis Rourke five times and held the Hoosiers to just 26 yards across eight consecutive possessions. On Saturday, November 23, 2024, No. 2 Ohio State overwhelmed No. 5 Indiana 38‑15 at Ohio Stadium, handing the Hoosiers their first loss and extending the Buckeyes’ win streak in the series to 30 consecutive games.
The pre‑game narrative sold this as the biggest test of Curt Cignetti’s unbeaten Indiana team, a squad averaging over 40 points per game and dreaming of a Big Ten title. Instead, the Buckeyes’ defensive front — led by Cody Simon’s 2.5 sacks — turned the Hoosiers’ offense into a one‑drive wonder. What happened after Indiana’s opening 70‑yard touchdown march was a statistical avalanche that rewrites the playoff picture and exposes just how wide the gap remains between the Big Ten’s elite and its feel‑good stories.
This is a highlight/statistics recap of the Ohio State Buckeyes vs Indiana Hoosiers football match.
Teams, Lineup & Game Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers at No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes |
| Date | Saturday, November 23, 2024 |
| Venue | Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH |
| Start Time | 12:00 PM ET |
| Attendance | 105,751 |
| Game Duration | 3 hours 16 minutes (approx.) |
| Series Status | Ohio State leads 30-game win streak |
| Officials | Not specified |
| Final Score | Ohio State 38 – Indiana 15 |
A sold‑out Ohio Stadium — all 105,751 fans — braved the November chill for a top‑five collision that quickly morphed into a coronation for the Buckeyes’ defense.
Key Players & Starting Lineups
| Team | Key Hitters / Scorers | Key Pitchers / Defenders |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | Will Howard (QB), Emeka Egbuka (WR), TreVeyon Henderson (RB), Carnell Tate (WR) | Cody Simon (LB), Caleb Downs (S), Jack Sawyer (DE), Ty Hamilton (DT) |
| Indiana | Ty Son Lawton (RB), Justice Ellison (RB), Elijah Sarratt (WR) | Aiden Fisher (LB), Jailin Walker (LB), Shawn Asbury II (DB) |
Quarter‑by‑Quarter Scoring Breakdown
| Period | Indiana Points | Ohio State Points | Cumulative IND | Cumulative OSU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2nd | 0 | 14 | 7 | 14 |
| 3rd | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| 4th | 8 | 10 | 15 | 38 |
| Final | 15 | 38 | — | — |
After the first quarter, the Buckeyes outscored Indiana 38‑8 — a statistic that captures the defensive stranglehold Ohio State applied for 45 minutes of game clock.
The 3rd Period: 14 Points That Stole Indiana’s Soul
Any hope of a Hoosier upset evaporated in a third quarter that tilted the field — literally. Ohio State scored two touchdowns in the first 6:02 of the second half, both off special‑teams and offensive precision that Indiana had no answer for.
| Play | Scoring Event | IND Score | OSU Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Downs 79-yard punt return (Fielding kick) | Downs fields punt at OSU 21, weaves through coverage for a house call | 7 | 21 |
| Jelani Thurman 1-yard pass from Will Howard (Fielding kick) | Capping a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ate 5:45 of clock | 7 | 28 |
The punt‑return touchdown was Ohio State’s first since 2014, and it came at the worst possible moment for an Indiana team already reeling from a second‑quarter special‑teams fumble that set up a TreVeyon Henderson 4‑yard score. The Hoosiers’ offensive line, which had allowed five sacks for 46 lost yards, was in full‑scale collapse by the middle of the third quarter.
Standout Performances & Player Highlights
| Player | Team | Pass (Att/Cmp/Yds/TD/INT) | Rush (Att/Yds/TD) | Receiving (Rec/Tar/Yds/TD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Howard | OSU | 22/26, 201 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT | 5 att, 9 yds, 1 TD | — |
| Emeka Egbuka | OSU | — | — | 7 rec/7 tar, 80 yds, 1 TD |
| TreVeyon Henderson | OSU | — | 9 att, 68 yds, 1 TD | 3 rec/3 tar, 5 yds, 0 TD |
| Carnell Tate | OSU | — | — | 4 rec/4 tar, 68 yds, 0 TD |
| Caleb Downs | OSU | — | — | 3 punt returns, 91 yds, 1 TD |
| Quinshon Judkins | OSU | — | 14 att, 36 yds, 0 TD | 2 rec/2 tar, 7 yds, 0 TD |
| Ty Son Lawton | IND | — | 15 att, 79 yds, 2 TD | 2 rec/4 tar, 9 yds, 0 TD |
| Justice Ellison | IND | — | 17 att, 62 yds, 0 TD | — |
| Elijah Sarratt | IND | — | — | 3 rec/5 tar, 40 yds, 0 TD |
| Kurtis Rourke | IND | 8/18, 68 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT | 7 att, -33 yds, 0 TD | — |
Will Howard was the engine. His 84.6% completion rate (22‑of‑26) for 201 yards and three total touchdowns produced a quarterback rating of 167.2, the highest in any game of his Ohio State career to that point. Emeka Egbuka was uncoverable underneath, catching all seven of his targets for 80 yards and a touchdown. On the other side, Ty Son Lawton accounted for both Indiana touchdowns but needed 15 carries to scrape together 79 yards — a 2.0‑yard‑per‑rush team average that tells the real story.
Box Scores: Both Teams at a Glance
Ohio State Buckeyes – Full Offensive Box Score
| Player | Pos | Att | Cmp | Pass Yds | TD | INT | Rush | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Howard | QB | 26 | 22 | 201 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 | — | — | — |
| TreVeyon Henderson | RB | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 68 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Quinshon Judkins | RB | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| Emeka Egbuka | WR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 80 | 1 |
| Carnell Tate | WR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 68 | 0 |
| Jeremiah Smith | WR | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | 0 | 3 | 34 | 0 |
| Gee Scott Jr. | TE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| Jelani Thurman | TE | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Indiana Hoosiers – Full Offensive Box Score
| Player | Pos | Att | Cmp | Pass Yds | TD | INT | Rush | Rush Yds | Rush TD | Rec | Rec Yds | Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kurtis Rourke | QB | 18 | 8 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 7 | -33 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Ty Son Lawton | RB | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 79 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| Justice Ellison | RB | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 62 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Elijah Sarratt | WR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 40 | 0 |
| Myles Price | WR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 13 | 0 |
| Ke’Shawn Williams | WR | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 6 | 0 |
Ohio State out‑gained Indiana 316 to 151 in total offense. The Hoosiers’ 1‑of‑2 fourth‑down conversion rate and 6‑of‑14 third‑down success underscored an offense that simply could not stay on the field.
Defensive Matchup Breakdown
Ohio State Defensive Leaders
| Player | Pos | Tackles (Solo–Ast) | Sacks | INT | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cody Simon | LB | 5–6 | 2.5 | 0 | 1 |
| Sonny Styles | S | Not specified | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jack Sawyer | DE | Not specified | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Ty Hamilton | DT | Not specified | 0.5 | 0 | 1 (FR) |
| JT Tuimoloau | DE | Not specified | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Caleb Downs | S | Not specified | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Indiana Defensive Leaders
| Player | Pos | Tackles (Solo–Ast) | Sacks | INT | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiden Fisher | LB | 3–1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jailin Walker | LB | 4–3 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Shawn Asbury II | DB | 3–4 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lanell Carr Jr. | DL | 4–3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Cody Simon was the game’s most disruptive force. His 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble that Ty Hamilton recovered in the second quarter directly set up the go‑ahead touchdown. Indiana’s defense, which entered the game allowing only 13.8 points per contest, surrendered 38 points — the most the Hoosiers had given up all season — and managed only one takeaway, a Jailin Walker interception of Howard in the second quarter.
Key Statistics Comparison
| Statistic | Ohio State | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 38 | 15 |
| Total Yards | 316 | 151 |
| Passing Yards | 201 | 68 |
| Rushing Yards | 115 | 83 |
| Yards Per Play | 5.7 | 2.6 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks | 5 | 1 |
| Third-Down Efficiency | 4/11 (36%) | 6/14 (43%) |
| Fourth-Down Efficiency | 2/3 (67%) | 1/2 (50%) |
| Time of Possession | 29:20 | 30:40 |
| Penalties | 8–58 | 3–15 |
The most jarring number: 2.6 yards per play for Indiana. The Hoosiers entered the game averaging 7.2 yards per snap (No. 2 in the FBS). Ohio State’s defense cut that figure by nearly two‑thirds.
Quotes & Reactions
Curt Cignetti, Indiana Head Coach: “In life, all good things come to an end. … We had communication errors, pass protection, every time we dropped back to pass, something bad happened.”
Ryan Day, Ohio State Head Coach: “Our guys just played with a chip today, and that’s the way you got to play the game of football. … We don’t win this game, and we have no chance to go to Indianapolis and play in the Big Ten championship.”
Curt Cignetti (cont.): “Ohio State deserved to win. They had those (third‑quarter scores), and we just couldn’t respond.”
Will Howard, Ohio State QB: (No verbatim quote available, but his 167.2 passer rating spoke louder than words.)
Caleb Downs, Ohio State S/PR: His 79‑yard punt return broke a decade‑long Buckeyes drought and was described by teammates as the “dagger” that ended Indiana’s resistance.
Match Analysis: What Went Right & Wrong
Ohio State
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| What Went Right | Defensive line dominated (5 sacks, constant pressure); Howard was surgical on third down; special teams produced a historic punt-return TD. |
| What Went Wrong | Offense started slow (0 first-quarter points); Howard threw a red-zone interception; eight penalties for 58 yards showed sloppiness. |
| Offensive Strength | Short-to-intermediate passing game; Egbuka and Tate combined for 11 catches and 148 yards. |
| Defensive Strength | Pass rush and third-down discipline; held Rourke to 3.8 yards per attempt. |
| Strategy | Punish Rourke with four-man rushes, force Indiana to sustain long drives, and capitalize on special-teams miscues. |
Indiana
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| What Went Right | Opening drive was flawless (11 plays, 70 yards); Lawton punched in two short scores. |
| What Went Wrong | Offensive line disintegrated; special-teams gave away two touchdowns (muffed punt, punt return); Rourke completed only 44.4% of passes. |
| Offensive Strength | Between-the-tackles running on the first drive; Lawton & Ellison showed burst. |
| Defensive Strength | Forced one interception; limited Ohio State to 36% third-down conversions. |
| Strategy | Attempted to control the clock with the run game; plan evaporated after falling behind by two scores. |
Controversial Moment: Late in the second quarter, Indiana punter James Evans fumbled a snap deep in his own territory, gifting Ohio State possession at the Hoosiers’ 7‑yard line. Replays showed Evans may have been interfered with, but no flag was thrown. The resulting TreVeyon Henderson touchdown gave the Buckeyes a lead they never relinquished.
Series / Season Timeline
| Game | Date | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Season Opener | Sep 2, 2023 | Ohio State | 23–3 |
| 2024 Week 13 | Nov 23, 2024 | Ohio State | 38–15 |
Ohio State has now defeated Indiana 30 consecutive times, a streak that dates back to 1991 — the longest active winning streak in any FBS head‑to‑head series. The loss dropped Indiana to 10‑1 (7‑1 Big Ten) and effectively eliminated the Hoosiers from Big Ten Championship contention, while Ohio State improved to 10‑1 (7‑1 Big Ten) and set up a win‑and‑in scenario against Michigan the following week.
Where to Watch
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| United States (National) | FOX (live); FS1 (replays) |
| International | TSN (Canada); BT Sport (UK); ESPN Player (various) |
| Streaming | FOX Sports App; YouTube TV; Hulu + Live TV |
Full game replays are available on the Ohio State Buckeyes official YouTube channel and the Big Ten Network archives.
Conclusion
The ohio state buckeyes football vs indiana hoosiers football match player stats tell an undeniable story: a title‑caliber defense dismantled an unbeaten offense, and a veteran quarterback executed with machine‑like precision when it mattered most. Will Howard’s 167.2 passer rating, Emeka Egbuka’s perfect catch rate, and Cody Simon’s 2.5 sacks formed the statistical spine of a 38‑15 beatdown that extended Ohio State’s dominance over Indiana to 30 straight games.
For the Hoosiers, the box score — 151 total yards, 2.6 yards per play, 5 sacks allowed — is a cold reminder that fairy tales rarely survive a trip to Columbus. The Buckeyes now march toward Michigan with a Big Ten Championship berth dangling one win away.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the Ohio State vs Indiana game?
A: Ohio State won 38‑15 on November 23, 2024.
Q: Who was the starting quarterback for Ohio State, and what were his stats?
A: Will Howard started and completed 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, adding a rushing touchdown.
Q: How many yards did Indiana total on offense?
A: Indiana managed only 151 total yards — 68 passing and 83 rushing — their lowest output of the season.
Q: Which Ohio State defender had the most sacks?
A: Linebacker Cody Simon recorded 2.5 sacks and forced a fumble.
Q: Did Indiana score first?
A: Yes. Ty Son Lawton capped an 11‑play, 70‑yard opening drive with a 2‑yard touchdown run, giving Indiana an early 7‑0 lead.
Q: How long is Ohio State’s winning streak against Indiana?
A: The Buckeyes have won 30 consecutive games against the Hoosiers, a streak that began in 1991.
Q: What was the game’s attendance?
A: The official attendance at Ohio Stadium was 105,751.