Ohio State Football vs. Indiana: Three keys to victory

3. The Ohio State football team needs to protect the football

In my opinion, the only way Indiana can win this game is by forcing a bunch of turnovers. The Ohio State football team has to protect the ball. Turnovers are a way for a team to get momentum and believe they can beat a team with more talent than them.

Ohio State typically does a good job of protecting the ball and limiting the amount of turnovers they produce. But having two new quarterbacks play in this game means they could try to force some passes that they shouldn’t, and that could lead to interceptions.

Protecting the ball has to be the number one priority for the Buckeyes. Limiting turnovers limits the number of possessions IU can have in this ball game. That also gives the Buckeyes more time to control the clock and keep IU’s offense off the field.

I expect the Buckeyes to either be turnover-free or have just one of them in this game. Day knows the importance of protecting the ball and he has been preaching it all week with his team. I think they will come out ready to play and won’t do anything reckless.

Those are the three keys to a Buckeye victory in Week 1. Indiana isn’t a great team, so Ohio State can win this game even with their B game. I’d still like to see them fire on all cylinders early.