Ohio State preparing for both Indiana QBs with starter’s status in question

Credit: Corey Perrine

Credit: Corey Perrine

Ohio State should not be caught off guard if Indiana is without its starting quarterback when the teams face off Saturday in Bloomington.

Buckeyes coach Ryan Day said they have been preparing for either Michael Penix Jr. or Peyton Ramsey all week.

That topic came up Thursday afternoon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center after Indiana coach Tom Allen told reporters in Bloomington that Penix will be a game-time decision because of an undisclosed injury.

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A 6-3, 202-pound redshirt freshman from Tampa, Fla., he has completed 38 of 60 passes for 523 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions on the season. He also has 79 yards rushing in his first season as the Hoosiers starter.

Ramsey, a 6-3, 216-pound junior from Cincinnati Elder, started all 12 games last season and four the year before but lost a preseason quarterback battle with Penix.

“Ramsey is a good player,” Day said. "He played good against us last year.”

Ramsey entered the 2018 game against Ohio State averaging 207.8 yards passing per game but surpassed that in the first half of a game the Buckeyes ultimately won 49-26.

He finished with 322 yards passing and three touchdown passes, and seven of his completions were good for 15 yards or more, including four of at least 30 yards.

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