ESPN's Mark Sanchez expects Indiana-Ohio State to be close 'for about a quarter'

No. 9 Indiana will have its biggest test of the season on Saturday when they travel to face No. 3 Ohio State (12 pm EST/FOX).

Ohio State leads the all-time series 75-12-5 vs. Indiana and is currently on a 24-game winning streak against the Hoosiers.

Indiana’s defense brought its best showing of the season last week with a 24-0 shutout at Michigan State. That means Indiana is now tied for the national lead in shutouts (5) dating back to 2017.

While this is a new and revitalized Indiana squad, ESPN’s Mark Sanchez believes the Hoosiers still are not on the same level as Ohio State.

Anchored by Heisman Trophy contender Justin Fields, Ohio State has scored 52, 38, and 49 points respectively in three games this season.

Sanchez is forecasting a blowout in favor of an Ohio State squad whose game last week was canceled due COVID-19 issues at Maryland:

“I know what you’re saying in this one, too. Tom Allen’s got this team playing well. 8 wins last year, they’re off to a 4-0 start. They haven’t been ranked in the top 10 since 1967. But listen, they’re going up against Ohio State. This is where this thing comes to a screeching halt, unfortunately for Indiana,” Sanchez said on ESPN’s Friday morning edition of Get Up! “They have the 113th ranked schedule in all of college football this year, that’s not good. The talent is just going to outweigh them. It’s going to be a little too much, it’s going to overwhelm them, so I have Ohio State winning. I think it’s competitive for about a quarter.”

Indiana coach Tom Allen isn’t worried about the outside noise though and is confident his team can pull off the upset.

“I love this place. I love these kids. They’re going to fight. I don’t care what anybody says about this stinking game,” Allen said via CBS Sports. “We’re going to compete. We’re going fight. Good Lord willing, we’re going to find a way keep proving everybody wrong.”