C.J. Stroud named Big Ten offensive player of week after Indiana performance

COLUMBUS — Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has done it again. Stroud was named Big Ten offensive player of the week for the third time this season Monday.

The junior tossed five touchdowns and three for 297 yards in a 56-14 win over Indiana. It marked his ninth career outing with at least five touchdown passes.

Although Stroud had more than 10 incompletions for the second straight game — he completed 17-of-28 attempts — he made six Pro Football Focus “big-time throws,” the most of any Power Five quarterback in Week 11. Stroud was an impressive 4-of-8 on passes traveling at least 20 yards downfield, per PFF.

Those deep passes accounted for approximately 28.6% of his attempts against Indiana, which struggled to defend Ohio State’s loaded receiver room.

Stroud’s first touchdown pass went to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who was coming off a season-worst outing at Northwestern the previous week. Next, Stroud capitalized on a biting safety on play-action, hitting Marvin Harrison Jr. in stride for a 58-yard score. He then dialed up back-to-back red zone touchdown passes to tight end Cade Stover.

2:37 left in Q1: Ohio State 21, Indiana 0.

Indiana's safety bit on the run fake, and that was enough for #Buckeyes WR Marvin Harrison Jr. to create incredible separation.

Leads to a 58-yard touchdown. pic.twitter.com/kn6q88J8hi

— Andy Backstrom (@andybackstrom) November 12, 2022

Stroud’s final scoring play stood out the most, however. He connected with graduate wideout Kam Babb in the fourth quarter. Babb, who has suffered five season-ending injuries since his sophomore year of high school, had never recorded a touchdown, let alone a catch in his Buckeyes career.

Stroud’s five-touchdown showing follows up a bizarre game at Northwestern, where he was severely limited by winds that got up to 40 miles per hour in speeds and sideways rain — Stroud actually ran for more yards (79) than he threw for (76) in that victory.

He got back on track through the air against Indiana, staying very much alive in a still-competitive Heisman Trophy race.

Stroud is now posting a 34:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He hasn’t thrown a pick since the Iowa game on Oct. 22.