Jeremiah Smith is one big catch away from tying the Big Ten's career receiving touchdowns record. But Indiana has never allowed him to score in two meetings. Will that change Saturday in Bloomington?
Ohio State's Heisman Trophy frontrunner has 38 career touchdown catches, one short of the Big Ten record held by Michigan's Braylon Edwards. Smith broke a similar slump earlier this season against Texas, which had held him in check in two previous meetings, and picked up 164 yards (in a loss) in Week 2. No other team has held Smith scoreless more than once.
He can end that drought — and break another record — Saturday when No. 4 Ohio State travels to No. 5 Indiana. The Hoosiers are slight underdogs despite winning 22 straight games and posting a perfect 19-0 record at home under Curt Cignetti. Week 7 promises to be a big one across the sport.
It's the first weekend since 2018 with four matchups between AP Top 15 teams. No. 6 Alabama heads to Knoxville after a loss to Georgia, which climbed to No. 1 this week. The Crimson Tide haven't dropped back-to-back regular-season games since 2007, Nick Saban's first season, a streak of 220 games.
The home team has won the last five games in the rivalry known as the Third Saturday in October. No. 14 Tennessee spent the week sorting out its quarterback situation — George MacIntyre will start in place of the injured freshman Faizon Brandon. Elsewhere in the SEC, Austin Simmons returns to No. 9 Ole Miss, where he opened last season as the starter before an ankle injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss.
Now, Simmons brings No. 13 Missouri to Oxford for a gigantic showdown. Then comes Provo at night, as No. 8 BYU hosts No. 2 Notre Dame in one of the biggest games in Cougars history. The Irish have won 16 straight games by double digits but enter Saturday with seven consecutive road losses against AP Top 10 teams.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
