BLOOMINGTON – Bill Lynch and his offensive coaching staff tried to find a weakness while reviewing film of Ohio State’s defense. They came up empty.

“They are one of those defenses that you can spend all day Sunday and Sunday night and Monday, and what it comes down to is that we are going to have to execute. We’re going to have to block them. We’re going to have to catch it and throw it very well, because there’s not that ‘well, they’ll have trouble with this,’ ” the Indiana coach said Tuesday. “They handle it all and they handle it very well.”

For the first time since 1996, the No. 9 Buckeyes have posted back-to-back shutouts. The Hoosiers are out to end the streak when the teams meet at 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

“They are real fundamental and usually in the spots they are coached to be at,” quarterback Ben Chappell said. “We have to concentrate on doing well on conversion downs, being good in the red zone and doing things we’ve talked about all season.”

Ohio State is second in the Big Ten and seventh nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 11.2 points per game. The Buckeyes are also second in the conference in passing defense (159 yards) and total defense (258.8 yards). Ohio State will be without starting safety Kurt Coleman, who was suspended one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit against Illinois, but Lynch doesn’t think that will be much of an issue.

“They have great players everywhere and have for a long time,” Lynch said. “I’m sure the next guy will be a great player as well.”

Ohio State hasn’t allowed a point since giving up a fourth-quarter touchdown in the 18-15 loss to Southern Cal on Sept. 12. The Buckeyes blanked Toledo (38-0) and Illinois (30-0). Ohio State coach Jim Tressel credited the team’s preparation and experience for the recent run.

“We’ve got a veteran group and a lot of guys who contribute,” Tressel said during the Big Ten teleconference. “…They don’t seem to get shook. People move the ball down field or hit a big play here or there and they have the maturity to set up and get ready for the next play. That comes because they feel confident in their preparation.”

The Buckeyes are also strong against the run, allowing 99.8 yards per game (third in the Big Ten, 24th nationally). IU will try to counter with another heavy dose of Darius Willis. The freshman rushed for a career-high 152 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan. Willis is listed atop the running back depth chart, but Lynch said Demetrius McCray and Trea Burgess will continue to factor in at the position.

“We won’t decide until the end of the week about the number of carries, and sometimes the flow of the game takes over and you have to go with the flow,” Lynch said. “I think any coach would tell you that. They don’t monitor the number of carries like they do pitches in baseball, for example. We will see how the game is going and how we hold up physically.”

lpope@jg.net