Buckeyes Football History: Ohio State vs. Indiana, 2012

The Buckeyes have been dominant against the Indiana Hoosiers throughout this matchup's history with an overall record of 69-12-5, but you may remember that Ohio State's win against the Hoosiers during the 2012 season didn't come easily.

Ohio State was ranked eighth in the AP poll and was undefeated heading into the contest, and Indiana came into the game with a 2-3 record featuring close losses to Michigan State and Ball State. The Buckeyes were heavily favored to win, but Indiana showed early in the game that they weren't necessarily buying into that.

The Buckeyes took an early 10-0 lead off of a Philly Brown rushing touchdown and a Drew Basil field goal in the first quarter, but the Hoosiers roared back, scoring two unanswered touchdowns in the late first quarter and early second quarter to establish a 14-0 lead. Undeterred, the Buckeyes added a touchdown off of a blocked punt to make it a 17-14 game, and extended their lead to 24-14 on a 60-yard Devin Smith receiving touchdown.

Early in the third quarter, an Indiana field goal narrowed Ohio State's lead to one touchdown, but literally seconds later Braxton Miller ran one 67 yards to the house, giving the Buckeyes a 31-17 lead. Another touchdown for each team and a 44-yard Hoosiers field goal gave the Buckeyes a 38-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Buckeyes added two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter while allowing one Indiana touchdown, giving Ohio State a comfortable 52-34 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the game. A ranked team, undefeated to that point in the season facing a team with a losing record with an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter--it seemed like a pretty good situation for the Buckeyes.

Indiana, however, wasn't convinced it was over.

A 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Nate Sudfeld to Duwyce Wilson and the subsequent PAT slimmed Ohio State's lead to 52-41, making it a two-possession game with 1:40 remaining. Indiana recovered their onside kick and promptly scored again, this time on a 25-yard Sudfeld pass to Stephen Houston. A two-point conversion attempt was successful, and the Buckeyes suddenly had just a three-point lead with 1:05 remaining in the game. It would all come down to one last onside kick.

It was a squib kick, and fans held their collective breath as it rolled around on the ground for what seemed like an eternity. Philly Brown was able to secure it, giving the Buckeyes possession and the opportunity to kneel it out for a too-close-for-comfort victory.

Ohio State heads into Saturday's game against Indiana leading the Big Ten East with a 9-1 record and ranked seventh or eighth in the nation, depending on which rankings you're consulting. Indiana has a 3-7 record and has an 0-6 record in conference play. The 2012 game, however, is a good reminder that anything can happen on any given Saturday.