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| Columbus Dispatch
No. 3 Ohio State is still undefeated, but it wasn’t easy.
The Buckeyes held off a challenge from No. 10 Indiana in a 42-35 victory that gave them control of the Big Ten East.
It appeared Ohio State would cruise to the win with Justin Fields throwing for two scores and Master Teague adding two on the ground as the Buckeyes built a 35-7 lead early in the third quarter.
However, Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. went to work on a vulnerable Ohio State secondary. He found Ty Fryfogle for three long touchdowns to bring Indiana within seven points.
The Hoosiers then got a fourth-down stop from their 7 to get the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead with 4:35 left. The Buckeyes defense, however, got two late stops to preserve the victory.
Penix finished with 27-of-51 for 491 yards and five touchdowns, and Fryfogle caught seven passes for 218 yards.
Fields, one of the front-runners for the Heisman Trophy, threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, but also had three interceptions to help the Hoosiers stay close. Teague ran for a career-high 169 yards as the Buckeyes finished with 307 yards rushing.
Ohio State is now the lone unbeaten in the East division with games against Michigan State, Illinois and Michigan left. The Buckeyes could afford one loss and still reach the conference championship game.
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