Every week, Eleven Warriors dives into the mentions of Ohio State's coaches and players to bring you the #HotTakes and ramblings of Buckeye Nation. This week, we were all biting our fingernails down the stretch against Indiana.
Well, that was weird.
Ohio State got what it needed on Saturday — a notable victory over a top 10 team — but the game didn't play out as many Buckeye fans hoped or expected.
Quarterback Justin Fields entered the game with more total touchdowns than incompletions on the season, but he went on to throw as many interceptions (three) as he had in his entire collegiate career.
Ohio State hadn't broken out in the run game, but Master Teague and Trey Sermon found huge holes in the Indiana defense. Teague went for a career-high 169 rushing yards and Sermon added 60 on nine carries. That helped the Buckeyes tally a season-high 307 rushing yards.
On the flip side, Indiana couldn't muster anything on the ground. The Hoosiers registered 16 carries on the stat sheet but finished with an incredible minus-one yard rushing. But Tom Allen's team didn't need much from its ground game as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. erupted, throwing for 491 yards and five touchdowns on just 27 completions.
With all that said, Ohio State held a 28-7 lead at the break and looked to be cruising to a big win. But Indiana battled back in the second, scoring 28 of the final 35 points to make it a one-score game in the waning moments of the fourth quarter.
The Buckeyes were able to drain most of the clock, but Penix Jr. had a chance to lead his Hoosiers to a program-defining win.
Ohio State fans handled this poorly on Twitter.
@ Ryan Day
Ryan Day always looks like he's wearing blusher on his cheeks.
— Linda Muehlig (@LindaMuehlig) November 21, 2020
The pregame energy was so strong.
Looks like @ryandaytime went to Staples and got an easy button #GoBuckeyes #Buckeyes @rollerCD
— Jay (@jleegill) November 21, 2020
Run the ball @ryandaytime
— Johnny K (@johnkoprivec) November 21, 2020
@ryandaytime can you throw some more streaks to Wilson and Olave?
— Ry Vaughn (@ryryvaughn) November 21, 2020
@ryandaytime Run the ball please!!#IUvsOSU
— prOpHetIc One (@BuckingPunisher) November 21, 2020
Remember, these tweets were rolling in during a game in which the Buckeyes ran for more than 300 yards.
@ryandaytime time to stop playing conservative lets unleash this offense like last year and the year before and stop playing like its the NFL its college football
— B (@b_minich) November 21, 2020
Imagine if strep throat were a tweet.
@ryandaytime pic.twitter.com/fDGvmlbjYn
— We Want Case Keenum (@noah_mccune) November 21, 2020
I thought @ryandaytime was a killer, turns out he's just like @CoachUrbanMeyer
— TJ Marcotte (@marcotte14) November 21, 2020
I will settle for Day not being a "killer," if he ends up winning three national titles.
Our secondary reminds me more of Schianos defense and less like Hafley's and thats a problem @ryandaytime
— Kyle Rawson (@georawson) November 21, 2020
Yeah...
@ryandaytime its time to revert to the Hafley playbook. This scheme aint it man. Dabo and Saban dont let their coaches get away with a regression this bad. Especially with a week to prepare.
— Senior Guapo (@SeniorGuapo216) November 21, 2020
Bro bench wade @ryandaytime
— Lexi (@AlexisW1202) November 21, 2020
You mean the guy who registered a pick-six on Saturday?
QB sneak under center with big athletic Qb works 100% of the time.
— Dr. of Robinwood (@sca_paul) November 21, 2020
Why dont we run it???
Fully endorse this tweet.
@ryandaytime was given the keys to a Ferrari and turned it into a Ford Pinto!! WTF!!
— castol01 (@castol01) November 21, 2020
Imagine composing this tweet and then sending it to Day's mentions.
@ Kerry Coombs
I have a feeling, @DB_CoachCoombs is going to call a masterpiece today. You could see it against PSU, you will see it again
— Adam Griffin (@yunggriffsays) November 21, 2020
Guys it turns out Adam Griffin cannot predict the future.
Come on! @DB_CoachCoombs
— Van Wenz (@VanAnthonyWenz) November 21, 2020
@DB_CoachCoombs seems to have the boys on different sheets of music today. Gashed for huge chunks through the air. If IU doing this what would Tlaw and Bama do? #WorkNotDone
— Chris Hurr (@cincyredwing) November 21, 2020
I don't want to know the answer to that, but I think we're going to by season's end.
Im think Coombs needs some help coaching the secondary AND being the DC. @CoachUrbanMeyer @ryandaytime @CieGrant @DB_CoachCoombs They need to finish plays... ALL THE TIME!! https://t.co/ktyP0UdctW
— William Houston (@OHWillieSKN) November 21, 2020
I love that he quote tweeted the father of Ohio State's best corner.
@DB_CoachCoombs it seems like the DBs have forgotten to wrap up and drive through the receiver. Might be time for Spielman to pay a visit to remind the guys. Wade on the play before IUs 2nd score is a great example of what not to do.
— RobTheBuckeye (@RobTheBuckeye) November 21, 2020
Love love love @DB_CoachCoombs , but I wouldnt want to be in his Secondary room this week. Hes gonna lose his shit and its gonna be intense.
— Michael Dustman (@mdustmanmagic) November 21, 2020
@DB_CoachCoombs why do our DBs play so far off the ball? Why dont we do more man so the athletes can be athletes? Why does it look like they are overthinking constantly? Why are our DBs giving up big plays again unlike last year? Just wondering.
— Senior Guapo (@SeniorGuapo216) November 21, 2020
Fire @DB_CoachCoombs immediately
— Eric Taylor (@iamerictaylor25) November 21, 2020
It was amazing that he tweeted this at Coombs but included no one else.
@DB_CoachCoombs NO MORE HOOKER!
— Irrational Browns Elf (@IrrationalFan23) November 21, 2020
If you read this tweet outside of football context it's much funnier.
@DB_CoachCoombs honestly what are you doing?
— Uncle Barack (@The_Alpha_GOAT) November 21, 2020
It's a valid question.
Their secondary is awful. We took a step back with @DB_CoachCoombs
— TJ Marcotte (@marcotte14) November 21, 2020
Or they took a step back after losing two first-round corners and a safety who's balling out in the NFL.
@DB_CoachCoombs recruits well but his secondary has been giving up big plays his whole career
— Jeremiah (@mindforgebdr) November 21, 2020
I'm pretty concerned too, but he has a national title ring and did some good things with Tennessee. Here's to hoping he can turn this around.
@DB_CoachCoombs hey, are you okay?
— Panarin (@NYBuckeye97) November 21, 2020
Finally, someone shows compassion.
@DB_CoachCoombs @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/vgFEfqKFbu
— Adam (@Buckeyes0331) November 21, 2020
Insert the "Not great, Bob," meme here.
@DB_CoachCoombs 491 yards passing. Third most ever given up in 131 years of football. Congrats!
— Trizzaah Scroogie (@5_FA_ekoW) November 21, 2020
Maybe start giving some of those dudes reality checks on if they want to keep their starting spots. Marcus Hooker is lost out there. Dbs cant cover or tackle.
@ Justin Fields
So, @justnfields just took the field.
— Strez (@Its_Strez) November 21, 2020
Thats game over.
Bucks by 50.#GoBuckeyes
Essentially correct, but...
@OhioStateFB is wasting NO time!@justnfields finds @GarrettWilson_V for 65 yards on their first play from scrimmage pic.twitter.com/e5UtuxiyBx
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 21, 2020
TOO EASY! @justnfields
— Keith M. Hellebrand (@KHellebrand) November 21, 2020
If only things could have ended after the game's first two drives.
Two plays. Two completions. TD. Hey @HeismanTrophy voters? You watching @justnfields? Sheesh.
— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) November 21, 2020
If you're watching, just stop now and assume the rest of the game proceeded accordingly.
Stay forever, @justnfields
— Jeffrey Elston (@jelstonCBUS) November 21, 2020
When I first read this tweet I thought he said, "Stay forever young," and I was like ah that's nice. I'm used to seeing nonsense in these mentions and I'm desperate for positivity.
@justnfields plz marry me
— Bailey Linton (@baileylin_) November 21, 2020
2020 can't kill romance.
Go off king @justnfields pic.twitter.com/FvIX2voR9A
— Luke (@luke3342) November 21, 2020
Interception. Hes no heismam
— Tim Sullivan (@timmymsullivan) November 21, 2020
Using this logic, the only quarterbacks who qualify for the Heisman Trophy are backups who don't play.
Aye bro you good???? @justnfields
— THJ (@UItraDraco) November 21, 2020
Concern for both Coombs and Fields!
@justnfields tighten up bruh
— jay (@KilIadelphia) November 21, 2020
Come on @justnfields!! Just throw the ball away bro.. no need to force a throw you cant make
— Adrian (@arivas91) November 21, 2020
His interceptions were bad and uncharacteristic.
Throw to the people in red jerseys @justnfields
— BuckeyeSZN (@DepressedCavs) November 21, 2020
Helpful.
@justnfields is a nightmare to tackle pic.twitter.com/zWRqtMIuRD
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 21, 2020
This was a good play.
@OhioStateFB ends the half strong with this @justnfields TD! pic.twitter.com/IdqEJOJOlU
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 21, 2020
Superman!!!! @justnfields
— Josh Schaffner (@josh_schaffner) November 21, 2020
Dunk on em then @justnfields
— Jason L. Wilson (@JasonWilson0719) November 21, 2020
They are a basketball school, after all.
Vegan looks good on him. pic.twitter.com/A48Z9OLhRe
— Brian Yang (@briflys) November 21, 2020
That's a good tweet.
@justnfields pic.twitter.com/F5DBg1xUWm
— Kyler May (@kyler_may_208) November 21, 2020
That's all for this week. See you guys after Illinois gets stuffed in a trash can.
