COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — In a game with postseason implications, No. 2 Ohio State scored 31 unanswered points to beat No. 5 Indiana, 38-15, keeping Big Ten championship hopes alive.  In front of a crowd of 105,751 fans, quarterback Will Howard threw for two touchdowns and ran for another while Caleb Downs scored Ohio State's first punt return for a touchdown in a decade. "I thought the crowd was awesome. I thought our guys played with great passion. I thought the two of them just played off each other the entire game," head coach Ryan Day said. "I think the fact that [Indiana] had to go to a silent count made a difference in this game." NFL announces schedule change for Bengals, Browns game in December After Indiana's Ty Lawton opened the scoring in the first quarter with a two-yard touchdown run, the Buckeyes got on the board in the second quarter when Howard found wide receiver Emeka Egbuka for the 11-yard touchdown. Then following a botched snap on the punt return, OSU took the lead thanks to TreVeyon Henderson, who scored a four-yard touchdown run in the final minute of the half. Downs broke several tackles and spun his way to a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter to put OSU up 21-7 over the Hoosiers. It was the school's first since Jalin Marshall did it on Nov. 22, 2014, which came, ironically, against Indiana. "There was no doubt that I was going to field it. Enough space there and everybody did a really good job blocking," Downs said. "We talked about it all week that we had a real opportunity to enjoy this win. Just a true blessing from God to really be able to put it in the end zone." Following Downs' score, Jelani Thurman added another touchdown with a one-yard reception later in the third to extend the lead to 28-7. Jayden Fielding added a 45-yard field goal to make it 31-7. Indiana found the endzone late with a Ty Lawton touchdown followed by a two-point conversion to make it 31-14 with 1:53 to go in the game. The Buckeyes responded with a three-play drive that ended with Howard scoring a one-yard touchdown run to make it 38-15. The OSU defense largely shut down the Hoosiers following their opening drive, sacking quarterback Kurtis Rourke five times and limiting Indiana to 151 total yards. The Hoosiers (10-0) were the third top-five opponent that the Buckeyes faced this season. They previously lost to then-No. 3 Oregon before beating then-No. 3 Penn State last month. Both of those games were on the road. Ohio State took the field with changes to the offensive line after graduate transfer Seth McLaughlin suffered a season-ending injury in practice earlier this week. Carson Hinzman took McLaughlin’s place at center, and Austin Siereveld moved to left guard. The Buckeyes now have a firm grasp of a spot in the Big Ten championship game next month heading into the final week of the regular season. The Ducks have already clinched a spot for the game Dec. 7 in Indianapolis. OSU now turns its attention to Michigan, who visits the Shoe next Saturday. Photo Gallery COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti looks on during a college football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 23, 2024 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Brutus and Ohio State Buckeyes players stand on the field after the game against the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ohio State Buckeyes on November 23, 2024, at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, OH. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) celebrates after a sack with safety Sonny Styles (6) and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton (58) during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on November 23, 2024 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 23: Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) directs the offense before the snap during a college football game against the Indiana Hoosiers on November 23, 2024 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Scroll below for live updates.