Indiana football quarterbacks ...

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football quarterback Brendan Sorsby called it a “little tough.” Fellow quarterback Tayven Jackson described it as “challenging.”

The Hoosiers quarterbacks split time in a 23-3 loss to Ohio State on Saturday after spending the entire offseason competing for the starting job.

Indiana coach Tom Allen said the coaching staff will rely on the same game plan against Indiana State in Week 2 except for flip-flopping who gets the first snap (Sorsby was the first quarterback to play against Ohio State).

They spoke to reporters after the game while standing on opposite sides of the Hoosiers’ weight room in the North End Zone of Memorial Stadium and offered similar assessments about the difficulties of splitting time.

“It's hard, it's hard to have that mindset, I'm not starting the game, but I might go in,” Jackson said. “If he goes out there and throws three touchdowns, I'm definitely not going in.”

After Sorsby threw a pair of three-and-outs to start the game, he didn’t re-enter the game until the final minute of the third quarter. Jackson didn’t take a single snap in the fourth quarter.

The overall numbers were ugly — 153 total yards, 10 first downs, 5 of 15 on third downs and not a single trip inside the red zone.

Sorsby had 58 passing yards, but the majority of that production came with the Hoosiers down three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The offense stalled for Jackson after he helped orchestrate an eight-play, 43-yard scoring drive that resulted in a 43-yard field goal.

"I feel like it's tougher to get into a rhythm, you never know when you are going to go in and you never know when you are going to get pulled out,” Sorsby said.

But that honesty shouldn’t be mistaken for negativity.

They shouldered the blame for the offensive struggles — Jackson wants to show better execution in the passing game next week while Sorsby said he has to get rid of the ball quicker — and both were hopeful the two-week trial by fire will ultimately produce a full-time starter that helps Indiana win some games.

"I think we did everything we were asked to do coming in and playing Ohio State as a redshirt freshman for both of us, it's pretty nerve wracking,” Jackson said.