Here are 5 things we learned from the Ohio State Buckeyes' 56-14 win over Indiana

At the rate things are going for Ohio State, the Buckeyes might want to line up against Maryland next week with an empty backfield ... for the entire game. Throw 100 passes. Never hand off. Don't risk another injury to a running back. Hope the injury ward finds healing powers before Michigan lands in town.

Ohio State football: Bottom line: How did the Buckeyes grade out vs. Indiana? How did OSU's offense grade?

Beating Indiana with fourth- and fifth-string running backs is fine. But beating Michigan with freshman Dallan Hayden as the workhorse is a big ask. See last year for reference. In two weeks, it'll again be all about the Michigan game and toughness.

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Here are five things we learned from Saturday's game:

Depth is a serious issue at a school that recruits the best players in the country

Nobody is ever going to feel sorry for Ohio State and its room full of four- and five-star recruits, but by the end of Saturday's 56-14 win over Indiana, the Buckeyes were without their top three running backs − TreVeyon Henderson, Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum − as well as Evan Pryor and TC Caffey, both out for the season.

That left Hayden and receiver Xavier Johnson to take over the backfield. Indiana provided little resistance, but Indiana is not Michigan. Johnson, who also has played cornerback, had a 71-yard touchdown run that looked like what you see in eight-man high school football, with zigging and zagging and missed tackles all over the place.

Michigan doesn't play eight-man high school football. Or miss many tackles.

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Lathan Ransom is a game-changer

As our Bill Rabinowitz wrote last week, Lathan Ransom's dad said his son was known as "Lights Out Lathan" in youth football. That's what happens when you mix great speed, timing and leverage with fearlessness.

For the Buckeyes, No. 12 is all over the field. On Saturday, he had nine tackles (7 solo), 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup and a blocked punt. In an amazing return from a broken leg in the Rose Bowl, he has become a difference-maker who gets better every week.

His stuffing of huge Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer in the season opener was the year's initial Ransom eye-opener, and he has continued to make big, fast plays every week.

One more fun fact about Ransom: His name is a combination of the names of his parents, Linda and Nathan.

Ohio State's downfield blocking is an underappreciated beauty

Want to see unselfish play? Look in opposing secondaries when a Buckeye is carrying the ball. Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming, star receivers who will one day get paid even more to catch passes, are relentless in their pursuit of opponents to block.

On Saturday, Egbuka led the way on a long run by Xavier Johnson, knocking two defenders out of the way while receiver-turned-tight end Gee Scott Jr. took care of another. Scott also escorted Harrison on an 18-yard end-around run.

These aren't just the get-in-the-way blocks you see from NFL receivers, either. On Johnson's 71-yard touchdown run, Harrison de-cleated Indiana defensive back Bryant Fitzgerald, after which Johnson ran left for his final zig of the play.

Credit receivers coach Brian Hartline for whatever he's doing to get buy-in for his group. It's a big thing.

Kamryn Babb means everything to this team

Kamryn Babb's struggles and his unbelievably positive attitude have been chronicled plenty. Once a highly regarded recruit, he has had four torn ACLs and this year again has been sidelined with injury.

He is in his fifth season, and even though he had zero career receptions before Saturday, he is a team captain and wears the No. 0 jersey, an award established two years ago to honor the legacy of legendary Buckeye Bill Willis.

So after weeks of being inactive due to injury, Babb suited up Saturday. Late in the fourth quarter, coach Ryan Day drew up a play that resulted in Babb's first catch and touchdown. The result on the OSU sideline was something resembling a championship celebration. Smiles were everywhere and many players had tears. There couldn't have been more raw emotion in a 56-14 blowout.

“What happened today in the stadium was magical," Day said. "That’s what college football means to a lot of people. Not to everybody, but to a lot of people. That’s one of the reasons why college football is special. It’s one of the reasons why you coach, to see something like that happen."

Josh Fryar makes a difference

Josh Fryar is in his third season at Ohio State and once was the No. 1 overall player in Indiana. So when right tackle Dawand Jones was a surprise scratch after warmups, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound Fryar jumped in and became a newcomer on a line that has otherwise stayed intact all season.

It's always risky judging offensive line play without an educated film review, but Fryar seemed to make a positive difference. The Buckeyes ran for a season-high 340 yards, and most of their successful big runs were to the right. Fryar and guard Matt Jones were highly active in getting to linebackers and creating space.

Even if he doesn't supplant the uber-talented Jones, Fryar's play is sure to make Buckeye coaches feel good about depth.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football beat Indiana: 5 things we learned about OSU