Notebook: Bazelak Set to Return; Trip to No. 2 Ohio State Next

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Connor Bazelak is back.

The veteran quarterback, who missed Saturday's Penn State game, will return to his starting duties when Indiana (3-6) plays at No. 2 Ohio State (9-0) on Saturday.

"He has come back from his time being injured and he will be our starting quarterback," head coach Tom Allen said during Monday's media availability.

Allen indicated it wasn't a specific injury that sidelined Bazelak, but the accumulation of punishment from the previous eight games.

"He was beat up pretty good," Allen said. "I didn't think he was at the level he needed to be (to do what we needed him to do)."

Jack Tuttle replaced Bazelak against Penn State, but was knocked out of the game in the second quarter with what Allen said was a shoulder injury. His status is still being evaluated.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Dexter Williams II showed promise in his first college action. Williams was 4-for-11 for 41 yards and two interceptions. He ran four times for 24 yards. Allen said he could play more in these final three games.

"I saw enough from Dexter that I was encouraged by the way he responded and played. I liked the way he threw the football. He had one poor decision, but he ran with something that we need. He can help us for sure.

"You try to maximize your roster. He's earned the right to be out there. That will be part of the moving-forward equation."

True freshman quarterback Brendan Sorsby also made his college debut. He was 3-for-6 for 8 yards and an interception.

"There were two guys getting their first reps of college football against a really good defense," offensive coordinator Walt Bell said. "Brendan played the way you'd expect a freshman to play when he has 12 to 15 reps in practice.

"Dex did some really good things, and some really bad things. There are plenty of things to learn and grow from.

"They were two guys getting their feet wet. I'm excited to see them moving forward. Both will be really good players at some point."

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Ohio State, which has won 28 straight games against unranked teams, has a potent combination of offense (a nation's-best 45.8-point average) and defense (allowing 15.8 to rank eighth nationally).

It scored 21 points against Notre Dame in the season opener, and 21 against Northwestern last Saturday in brutally windy conditions that helped limit standout quarterback C.J. Stroud to just 76 passing yards.
In the other seven games, the Buckeyes have scored at least 44 points, with a high of 77 against Toledo. They scored 54 points against a very good Iowa defense, 44 against Penn State, and 49 against Michigan State.

Stroud completes 67.9 percent of his passes for 2,453 yards, 29 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He rarely runs (he has 75 yards for the season), but did have a couple of key runs against Northwestern.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is the top receiver with 53 catches for 824 yards and 10 touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka has 49 for 794 and seven.

Running back TreVeyon Henderson missed the Northwestern game because of a foot injury. He's rushed for 552 yards and six touchdowns. Miyan Williams has 636 yards and 12 TDs.

Defensively, Ohio State has 22 sacks, 10 interceptions, and six fumble recoveries.

"We're excited about this opportunity to go to Columbus," Allen said. "Coach (Ryan) Day continues to do a tremendous job with that program, and the way they are playing at all three phases (is impressive). They have a lot of talented players and very good coaches. It will be a tremendous challenge."

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Bazelak watched Saturday's game in the press box with the offensive coaches. Allen said quarterbacks who are injured often watch the game from there to gain different perspectives and insight. Bell said it's a great learning tool.

"You get a chance to see how much slower the game is from there," Bell said. "You learn another level of football. You gain that recognition of here's what's coming and why. You see how football works."

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IU's up-tempo offense has had three-and-outs this season, which puts pressure on the defense. However, defensive coordinator Chad Wilt said his unit needs to force more three-and-outs to give the Hoosiers offense more opportunities.

Allowing a 96-yard touchdown drive to Penn State after a booming James Evans' punt was especially irritating.

"We have to get off the field," he said. "Why don't we get 3-and-outs? If you don't want to be on the field that much, get off the field. If you want to have more rest, don't give them a 96-yard drive.

"We don't take the easy out. Get a stop and give our offense a short field."

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IU remains focused on regaining the form that produced a 3-0 start to this season, and a 14-7 stretch with consecutive bowl appearances in 2019 and '20.

It starts, Allen said, with finding a way to win.

"It's also a byproduct of doing things the right way. That becomes a consistent focus of how you make those corrections, schematic corrections, fundamental questions.

"It's back to the basics of blocking and tackling and trying to make sure that we are emphasizing those in the proper way to create game-changing plays."

Allen added it means sticking to the program's core values.

"You don't get caught up in the circumstances and all the outside noise. You stay the course. You continue to develop the guys that are here and continue to recruit guys here and continue to try to find a way."

Notebook: Bazelak Set to Return; Trip to No. 2 Ohio State Next

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