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BTN’s Joshua Perry explains how Indiana is ‘built to challenge’ OSU

Mark Schipper

By Mark Schipper

Published:

Joshua Perry was an important Buckeye linebacker on Ohio State’s 2014 national championship team under head coach Urban Meyer. Now, working as a Big Ten Network analyst, Perry claims he sees ways the new-to-the-scene Indiana Hoosiers can give his former school trouble in their battle this Saturday in Columbus:

“I’m not saying the Hoosiers are going to beat the Buckeyes, but they can do a lot of things that are going to give the Buckeyes fits,” said Perry in a video posted to the BTN Twitter page. 

“When you look offensively, they’re built to challenge Ohio State, they’ve got great weapons at wide receiver on the outside, and Ohio State has struggled a little bit in that secondary with some young players in there.”

The Hoosiers are 4-0 and have knocked off both Michigan and Penn State in the same season for the first time in school history. Indiana can score and play defense and, with their highest national ranking since 1969, they are set for their biggest football showdown this century with Ohio State on the banks of the Olentangy for the lead in the Big Ten East division.

Perry believes he has spotted further matchup problems the Buckeyes will have to address if they want to stay on the chalk for a repeat appearance in the College Football Playoff:

“You look at Indiana defensively, their defensive line has done a really, really good job of applying pressure and the offensive line of Ohio State has struggled getting a push in the run game,” said Perry. 

The ninth-ranked Hoosiers and the third-ranked Buckeyes are scheduled to kick off at 12 pm EST this Saturday in Columbus. The game is scheduled to be FOX College Football’s Game of the Week and should draw a large share of the national audience in its time slot. 

Mark Schipper

Mark Schipper is a reporter, sportswriter, and aspiring novelist living in Chicago, Illinois.