COLUMBUS – Ohio State head coach Ryan Day answered one big question about the 2023 Buckeyes this week when he named Kyle McCord the starting quarterback in the season opener at Indiana Saturday.
(3) Ohio State (0-0, 0-0) vs. Indiana (0-0, 0-0); Memorial Stadium Bloomington, Ind.
Saturday, Sept. 2 (3:30 p.m./CBS)
But another issue that concerned fans in the off-season: a defense that showed a propensity for giving up big plays in big games. They wonder if that has been resolved and Day says that is an answer that can only come on the field in Bloomington.
“When you look at the season, that was an area that stuck out like a sore thumb,” Day told reporters. “We know that’s something that hurt us last year, and it cost us…we won’t know until we get into a game. That’s the test.”
The Buckeyes finished 11-2 last year, losing to rival Michigan in the final regular-season game and to Georgia in a CFP semifinal.
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw touchdown passes of 45, 69 and 75 yards and Donovan Edwards scored on 75- and 85-yd runs in the fourth quarter as the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the second year in a row.
The Buckeyes were awarded a playoff spot, losing to eventual national champion Georgia.
Ohio State was again burned by big plays, giving up late scoring passes by Stetson Bennett, including a 76-yarder, as OSU failed to hold onto a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter of a 42-41 defeat.
Third-ranked Ohio State is an overwhelming 29.5-point favorite at Indiana, according to FanDuel.
Either Tayven Jackson or Brendan Sorsby will start at quarterback for the Hoosiers.
Coach Tom Allen has made his choice but, as usual, won’t announce it publicly.
Jackson, the brother of former Indiana basketball All-American Trayce Jackson-Davis, spent last season at Tennessee and may have more upside.
Sorsby was with the Hoosiers last season and has more experience in the system.