Ohio State football has one loss in conference play, dropping a road match with the No. 1-ranked Oregon Ducks. Other than that, it has dominated Big Ten battles, throttling teams like Michigan State and Iowa.
The Buckeyes have a few massive games left on their resume, including a road matchup with the No. 3-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Their only other top-25 matchup is against Indiana on November 23, and as it currently stands, the Hoosiers could be without their starting quarterback, who will miss the team’s seventh game of the season Saturday against the Washington Huskies with a thumb injury.
He’s supposed to return, but it’s unclear when per Pete Thamel.
Sources: Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke is not expected to play this week against Washington because of a thumb injury in the Nebraska game. He will return this season, but the timetable isn’t clear yet. pic.twitter.com/mWWpKwKrVk
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 20, 2024
With about a month between now and when the Buckeyes face Indiana at home, Rourke has time for that thumb to heal, but given the importance of it at the quarterback position, it certainly could linger well into the future.
Rourke has been among the best quarterbacks in college football and could be a Heisman candidate if he misses just a week or so and can keep the Hoosiers’ torrid play into November.
That said, the Buckeyes should want Indiana still undefeated in November as a win at home would be a huge resume booster given their weak and heavily scrutinized non-conference schedule.
