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Pre-Game News and Notes (Indiana 2016)

1. If you look at the numbers, then Ohio State enters this game as the best team in the country. The most obvious numbers are the 4-0 record and the #2 ranking in both major polls. But here are some more numbers to consider:

CategoryOSU Statistic-NCAA Rank-
Scoring Offense57.0 ppg3rd
Scoring Defense9.3 ppg1st
Point Differential47.7 ppg1st
Total Offense576.3 ypg4th
Total Defense237.8 ypg3rd
Yardage Differential338.5 ypg1st
Rushing Offense332.0 ypg3rd
Rushing Defense97.5 ypg12th
Passing Offense244.3 ypg58th
Passing Defense140.3 ypg6th
Pass Efficiency Offense177.416th
Pass Efficiency Defense73.971st
3rd Down Offense.5711st
3rd Down Defense.27112th
Red Zone Offense.91329th
Red Zone Defense.5001st
Sacks2.50 / game44th
Sacks Allowed0.50 / game3rd
Net Punting47.18 yds2nd
Turnover Margin2.00 / game2nd
Time of Possession36:452nd
2. H-back Curtis Samuel is the Buckeyes' leading receiver (23 receptions, 345 yards, 3 touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (41 carries, 328 yards, 2 touchdowns). Samuel is averaging 168.25 all-purpose yards per game and 10.5 yards per touch, and he is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark in both rushing and receiving. Samuel already has nine plays from scrimmage of 20+ yards (3 rushes, 6 receptions).

3. Running back Mike Weber is the team's leading rusher, with 68 carries for 495 yards (7.3 average) and 2 touchdowns. In his brief time as a Buckeye, Weber is averaging 123.8 yards per game, which is slightly better than Archie Griffin's career average (121.5 ypg). At his current pace, Weber will rush for over 1,600 yards this season and easily break Ohio State's freshman rushing record (1,237 yards by Maurice Clarett in 2002).

4. Wide receiver Noah Brown has only 10 catches for 149 yards on the season, but half of his receptions have gone for touchdowns.

5. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has 1,093 total yards (205 rushing, 888 passing), for an average of 273.2 yards per game. He also has 17 total touchdowns (3 rushing, 14 passing) on the season.

6. Last week, Barrett set the Ohio State career record for touchdown passes with 59. Barrett is currently 10th in career passing yards with 4,714. He needs 376 yards to pass Jim Karsatos (5,089 yards) for 9th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 7,547 passing yards.

7. Barrett is in 5th place at Ohio State in career total yards with 6,539. He needs 350 yards to pass Troy Smith (6,888 yards) for 4th place. Art Schlichter is Ohio State's career leader with 8,850 total yards.

8. Barrett is in 3rd place at Ohio State in career total touchdowns with 84. He needs two touchdowns to pass Art Schlichter (85 TDs) and five touchdowns to pass Braxton Miller (88 TDs).

9. Barrett entered the 2016 season as Ohio State's career leader in completion percentage, at 64.2%. This season, Barrett has completed 70 of 102 passes (68.6%), which increases his career completion percentage to an even 65.0%.

10. H-back Dontre Wilson has 2,653 all-purpose yards for his career, which places him 29th at Ohio State. Wilson needs 29 yards to pass Maurice Hall for 28th place; 56 yards to pass Robert Smith for 27th place; 93 yards to pass Joey Galloway for 26th place; 94 yards to pass Cris Carter for 25th place; and 95 yards to pass Devin Smith for 24th place. Ohio State's career leader in all-purpose yards is Archie Griffin with 6,559.

11. Despite limited opportunities, punter Cameron Johnston is having an All American season. Johnston has 11 punts for 557 yards, for an average of 50.6 yards per punt. Eight of Johnston's punts have been inside the 20-yard line, only two punts have been returned for a total of just 18 yards, and one punt resulted in a touchback. When return yards and touchbacks are factored into the equation, Johnston has a net average of 47.2 yards per punt, which is second in FBS.

12. Here's the other good news about Ohio State's punting: the Buckeyes haven't had to do it very often this year. Last season, the Buckeyes averaged 4.6 punts per game, while they are averaging only 2.8 punts per game in 2016.

13. Through four games this season, 15 different Buckeyes have scored touchdowns. Last season, only 11 different players scored touchdowns.

14. Ohio State has not had a kick-off return for a touchdown since November 27, 2010 (Jordan Hall, 85 yards, vs Michigan); has not had a punt return for a touchdown since November 22, 2014 (Jalin Marshall, 54 yards, vs Indiana); and has not had a punt block for a touchdown since October 5, 2013 (Bradley Roby, 0 yards, vs Northwestern).
 
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