COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In his second career start, Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord had an up-and-down performance as the Buckeyes beat Indiana 23-3.

McCord finished 20-for-33 for 239 yards, one interception and no touchdowns. 

1st Half

In his first drive, McCord led the Buckeyes on an 11-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in which the OSU junior completed two out of four passes, including a 10-yard pass to tight end Gee Scott on 4th and 2.

But McCord and the Buckeyes failed to score on their next two drives. The third drive ended on a 4th and 2 attempt from the Indiana 29-yard line after McCord was intercepted trying to throw across his body to the middle of the field. The play was similar to OSU’s 4th-down conversion but McCord’s first receiver option was taken out of the play, forcing McCord to improvise.

After the interception, McCord was replaced by sophomore Devin Brown. Coach Ryan Day said earlier in the week Brown would play in the game but did not say when he would make his first appearance. Brown went three-and-out on his first drive on three run plays, which included a quarterback keeper on 3rd and 1 that lost yards. It was Brown’s only drive of the first half.

McCord came back into the game and completed a 24-yard pass to Cade Stover to put the Buckeyes on the Indiana 22-yard line. But McCord threw three-straight incompletions and OSU settled for a 40-yard field goal.

McCord’s first-half stats: 10-for-16 for 94 yards and 1 INT.

2nd Half

Ohio State went three-and-out to start the second half leaving Buckeye nation to wonder whether Brown would be put back in the game. But Day stuck with McCord who helped orchestrate a 76-yards drive, including 52 yards through the air. The drive came to a halt when McCord went the wrong way on a QB keeper on 3rd and goal for no gain forcing OSU to settle for a field goal to take a two-possession lead.

On the next drive, Ohio State only needed six plays to drive 88 yards capped off by Miyan Williams’ second touchdown of the game. OSU got into Hoosiers territory on a 49-yard pass to Cade Stover.

Just when it looked like McCord had found his rhythm after a 4th and 9 conversion inside the red zone, he missed two passes to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming as the Buckeyes settled for their third field goal of the game.