The game never needed to get there in the first place. Ohio State once again had large stretches of sloppy play. The Buckeyes turned the ball over at inopportune times, allowed too many offensive rebounds, and had too many befuddling offensive possessions.

Ohio State has lost consecutive two-point games to top-25 teams, most recently a 70-68 defeat at No. 24 Wisconsin on Tuesday night. That same day, Indiana took a 94-69 home loss to No. 18 Illinois that, on the heels of an 85-60 loss at Iowa three days earlier, had Hoosiers fans chanting for coach Mike Woodson to be fired.

Ohio State has been all over the place in terms of performance this season. Good enough to beat Kentucky, but bad enough to nearly be beaten by Big Ten basement dwellers Minnesota. So Indiana needs to attack certainties. One of them is that Ohio State will foul a lot.

Ohio and Indiana governors bet local treats on the college football national championship game between Ohio State Buckeyes and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

With Indiana sitting just 79th in adjusted offensive efficiency, it’s going to struggle against a quietly stout Ohio State Buckeyes defense. Ohio State is 29th in adjusted defensive efficiency and holding opponents to 71.1 ppg.

Indiana continues the 2024-25 season Friday against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Here's how to watch.

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Notre Dame’s units have been outstanding in all facets, including in the College Football Playoff.

And of course, quarterback Riley Leonard is from Fairhope, Ala., southeast of Mobile. He came to Notre Dame via transfer from Duke, but he also grew up a Fighting Irish fan, his great grandfather having played for Notre Dame in the 1940s.

Indiana men’s basketball (13-5, 4-3 Big Ten) will play its third game in less than a week when it faces Ohio State (10-7, 2-4 Big Ten) at 8 p.m. Friday inside Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Between Touchdown Jesus, “Win One for the Gipper," Rudy, and, yes, even the forward pass, there are those who believe football wouldn’t quite be football without Notre Dame. With the Fighting Irish waking up the echoes and playing for a title again after a generation-long retreat from the limelight,