IU football, Peyton Ramsey dice up UConn, blow out Huskies 38-3

BLOOMINGTON – Running with backup quarterback Peyton Ramsey for the second-straight week, Indiana buried the ugliness of Ohio State with a 38-3 blowout of hapless UConn on Saturday.

Here are three reasons why the Hoosiers finished with an unblemished nonconference slate:

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Report card:Hoosiers completely outclass UConn in all phases

Ramsey recovers

Handed a healthier run game and a more consistent pocket from which to pass, Peyton Ramsey put his Ohio State performance emphatically in the past. IU’s redshirt junior quarterback finished 23-of-27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns in place of the still-injured Michael Penix. He wasn’t flawless, nor was Indiana’s performance. But Ramsey gave the Hoosiers (3-1, 0-1) what they need most from him as a backup — steadiness, dependability and veteran savvy. On a day when his counterpart looked rattled and rough, Ramsey got IU back on track in the Hoosiers’ nonconference finale.

Defense dominates

Ramsey wasn’t the only one who moved on quickly from the embarrassment of last weekend. One week after allowed 51 points in a historic defeat to Ohio State, Indiana’s defense smothered a helpless UConn offense, outscoring the Huskies by themselves thanks to Cam Jones’ interception return for a touchdown. Indiana hounded UConn quarterback Jack Zergiotis all afternoon, finishing with two sacks and three more quarterback hits. The Hoosiers played in the UConn backfield for four quarters, dominating a hopelessly outmatched opponent.

Signs of life on the ground

Offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer said Monday that, to ignite Indiana’s ground game, the Hoosiers might simply need to be more willing to take two- and three-yard gains to wear defenses down long term. The Hoosiers showed some of that commitment Saturday, rushing Stevie Scott 21 times for 97 yards. Both were season highs for last season’s record-setting freshman, who has struggled to find the same seams and space as a sophomore. IU can beat Ball State and UConn without an effective rushing attack, but the Hoosiers won’t have much fun in the Big Ten unless they can gear their backfield up as the season wears on. Saturday wasn’t a resounding success, but it was a promising performance, with much sterner tests upcoming.

It’s rare to see Indiana a four-score favorite against any FBS team — even one as bad as UConn — but the Hoosiers spent Saturday proving Vegas right, in an encouraging final tune-up before Big Ten play begins again and for good.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.