BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — J.K. Dobbins ran for 193 yards and scored twice Saturday while Justin Fields threw three touchdown passes to lead No. 6 Ohio State to a 51-10 rout at Indiana.
The Buckeyes (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) have won each of their first three games by at least 24 points and extended their winning streak in the series to 24, dating to a tie in 1990. Ohio State hasn’t lost to Indiana since 1988.
And with Peyton Ramsey starting at quarterback in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr., the Hoosiers (2-1, 0-1) never had a chance.
It might not have mattered with Dobbins and Fields gashing Indiana’s defense.
Fields opened the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run, and then hooked up with Chris Olave for a 37-yard TD pass early in the second quarter to make it 14-3. On the ensuing Indiana series, Olave blocked a punt out of the end zone for a safety, and Dobbins’ slicing 56-yard run set up a 9-yard TD pass from Fields to K.J. Hill Jr. for a 23-3 lead.
Dobbins reached the end zone by breaking a handful of tackles on a 26-yard run to make it 30-3.
Indiana finally answered when Ramsey threw to Donovan Hale, who turned and found Peyton Hendershot wide open for a 49-yard TD pass. It was the first touchdown allowed in the first half this season by Ohio State.
The Buckeyes didn’t stop there.
Dobbins, who ran for 175 yards in the first half, caught a 4-yard TD pass from Fields early in the third quarter. Master Teague added a 40-yard TD run with 4:58 left in the quarter to make it 44-10.
Fields was 14 of 24 for 193 yards. Teague had 10 carries for 106 yards.
Ramsey was 20 of 34 for 166 yards, one interception and was sacked four times — the first sacks allowed by the Hoosiers this season.
It was the most lopsided margin in the series since the Buckeyes’ 44-3 victory in 2006.
THE TAKEAWAY
Ohio State: The Buckeyes were everything they’re cracked up to be. Fields was efficient, Dobbins proficient and the defense almost impenetrable. Ohio State scored in all three phases including a 96-yard interception return by Damon Arnette Jr. — the fifth-longest in school history. It could be an unbeatable combination.
Indiana: The Hoosiers found out how far they still must go to compete against the Big Ten’s top teams. With their running game stalled, Ramsey to rely almost exclusively on his arm. And when the Hoosiers couldn’t sustain drives, the defense wore down fast.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Ohio State avoided an early-season stumble, but a third straight blowout in a series they’ve dominated probably won’t help them move up in the Top 25.
UP NEXT
Ohio State: Hosts Miami (Ohio) next Saturday.
Indiana: Closes out its nonconference schedule when Connecticut comes to town next Saturday.
