Ohio State's offensive line faces its biggest test of the season at Indiana

Ohio State's trip to Bloomington this weekend is shaping up as a test of its offensive line more than anything else. The No. 4 Buckeyes expect to get a key blocker back before they face No. 5 Indiana, and they want a different result up front than the one they got the last time these teams met.

On3's Lettermen Row argues that Ohio State lost last season's Big Ten Championship Game mostly on its own. The Buckeyes made plenty of mistakes in that game, but On3's view is that Indiana beat them at the line of scrimmage. "Ohio State failed to protect itself," Birm wrote. On3 reports that a key piece of the line is returning this week, and a related Lettermen Row report says Phillip Daniels is expected back as the unit, coached by Tyler Bowen, faces its toughest test so far.

The numbers from that December night in Indianapolis back up the concern. According to Easy Sportz, Indiana won 13-10 and ended Ohio State's unbeaten season. Julian Sayin was sacked five times. He still threw for 258 yards, and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 144 yards, but the Buckeyes scored only 10 points.

Indiana's pass rush is still dangerous. Easy Sportz reports the Hoosiers average 3.3 sacks and 8.2 tackles for loss per game and give up about 12 points per game. They have also generated pressure without leaving their coverage exposed. That puts the burden on Ohio State's front to give Sayin time and to open running lanes for Bo Jackson, who has run for about 460 yards. Without a running game, Indiana can focus its rush on the quarterback.

When Sayin has had time this season, the Ohio State offense has scored a lot. Easy Sportz reports the Buckeyes are averaging more than 42 points per game. Smith has 48 catches for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns, and Sayin has thrown for roughly 1,772 yards.

Indiana is the defending national champion and has kept winning without Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. TCU transfer Josh Hoover has thrown for more than 1,300 yards with 17 touchdowns and no interceptions. Turbo Richard has run for nearly 600 yards, and Charlie Becker has 529 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. The Hoosiers' last two games were close, though: a 29-23 win over Northwestern and a 20-17 win over Nebraska.

The stakes are high. Ohio State is 5-1 and Indiana is 6-0, and both teams are 3-0 in Big Ten play, so the winner takes a big step in the conference race. The game kicks off Saturday at noon Eastern on Fox.

Ohio State is favored at -170 on Novig, one of the venues pricing the game, and the best sportsbook price on the Buckeyes is -180 at DraftKings. Indiana is getting 3.5 points at home, and the total is 50.5. Full prices are on the game odds page.