Indiana QB Josh Hoover blames himself for would-be TD to Nick Marsh vs Ohio State

Even with emotions still riding high from a heart-breaking loss between top-five teams, Indiana football quarterback Josh Hoover showcased true leadership when discussing the game’s most fateful play.

Hoover lobbed what seemed to be an easy go-ahead touchdown to a wide-open Nick Marsh on fourth down vs. No. 4 Ohio State. Even though he caught the ball, however, Marsh failed to establish himself inbounds, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Josh Hoover finds Nick Marsh – BUT HE’S OUT OF BOUNDS pic.twitter.com/WCcs1mUefF

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 17, 2026

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From there, the Buckeyes knelt out a 19-15 victory over the fourth-ranked Hoosiers.

Hoover, however, took the onus of the result of the play on himself, blaming a poorly placed ball for the reason Marsh didn’t have the score.

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“It’s not Nick (Marsh)’s fault at all. If I put it a little bit further inside, it would’ve been an easy catch.”

No. 5 Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover reacts to the heartbreaking ending to Saturday’s 19-15 loss to No. 4 Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/NbU6XvSfw2

— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) October 17, 2026

Curt Cignetti was slightly more blunt in his assessment of the play.

“We had it and we just didn’t make it happen,” Cignetti said. “So it’s a hard one to swallow.”

Despite the loss, which snapped a nation-leading 22-game win streak, Indiana still has everything to play for this season, including a potential rematch with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship and, from there, a bid to the College Football Playoff.

“Everything we want — except an undefeated season — is still in front of us,” Hoover said. “It’s a journey.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Indiana QB Josh Hoover blames himself for would-be TD to Nick Marsh vs Ohio State