Indianapolis, Ind. – For the first time in college football history, the nation’s top two ranked teams will meet for the 2025 Big Ten Championship. It also marks the first time in Big Ten history that both programs enter the contest with undefeated records.
The winner will secure the No. 1 seed in the 2026 College Football Playoffs, while the loser will hope to remain inside the top four seedings, and keep its first-round bye opportunity. The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes are seeking their first Big Ten title since 2020, while the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers are aiming for the first outright conference championship since 1945. Indiana previously shared the Big Ten crown with Purdue in 1967.
Ohio State Halts Indiana’s High-Powered First-Half Attack Taking a 10-3 Lead into Halftime
Ohio State entered today’s championship game with the nation’s top-ranked defense, and it showed early against an Indiana team that had been averaging just under 28 first-half points this season.
Indiana opened the scoring with a 39-yard field goal by Nicolas Radicic after Louis Moore intercepted a Julian Sayin pass midway through the first quarter. The Hoosiers forced a Buckeye punt on the next possession, but momentum quickly shifted when Fernando Mendoza’s pass was tipped and intercepted by Davison Igbinosun. Two plays later, Sayin found Carnell Tate for a 5-yard touchdown, giving Ohio State a 7–3 lead.
Indiana responded by driving back into field-goal range, but Radicic missed his first attempt of the year, handing the ball back to the Buckeyes. Sayin quickly hit Jeremiah Smith for a 52-yard gain, though the Hoosier defense tightened and held Ohio State to a 30-yard Jayden Fielding field goal, extending the lead to 10–3.
Despite trailing at halftime, Indiana held advantages in total yards, rushing yards, total plays, and time of possession — yet Ohio State still held the advantage on the scoreboard.
Indiana’s Defense Holds the Buckeyes Scoreless in the Second Half
Ohio State’s offense moved the ball more effectively in the second half but still came away with nothing to show for it. After managing just 128 yards in the first half, the Buckeyes added 194 after the break, yet their lone scoring opportunity slipped away when kicker Jayden Fielding pulled a 24-yard field goal with under three minutes remaining—a kick that would have tied the game.
Indiana took over with 2:48 left, and Ohio State still holding all three timeouts. The Buckeyes used two of them to stop the clock after first and second down, setting up a pivotal third-and-six. On the defining play of the night, Fernando Mendoza found Charlie Becker streaking down the right sideline for a 33-yard gain to the Ohio State 43-yard line. The Hoosiers drained the clock down to seventeen seconds, leaving the Buckeyes one final chance to get into field-goal range.
Three plays later, the opportunity was gone, and the improbable became reality: Indiana had won the 2025 Big Ten Championship and secured the No. 1 seed in the 2026 College Football Playoff.
It was the Indiana defense, however, that delivered the biggest impact. The Hoosiers recorded nine tackles for loss totaling 38 yards and added five sacks. Rolijah Hardy led the way with 10 tackles (six solo) and a sack, while Isaiah Jones contributed two sacks of his own.
Offensively, Indiana rushed for 118 yards on 34 carries, with Kaelon Black leading the team with 69 yards and Roman Hemby adding 52. Charlie Becker paced the receiving corps with 126 yards on six catches, and Elijah Sarratt hauled in IU’s lone touchdown reception. Fernando Mendoza entered the night tied for the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy and did nothing to hurt his case, completing 15 of 23 passes for 222 yards and Indiana’s only touchdown pass.
Julian Sayin threw for 258 yards for Ohio State but was pressured throughout the night. Jeremiah Smith was his primary target, catching eight passes for 144 yards, while Bo Jackson added 83 rushing yards on 17 carries for an efficient 4.9-yard average. On defense, Sonny Styles led the Buckeyes with 12 tackles (seven solo), and Caden Curry registered two sacks.
UP Next:
Indiana will head into the College Football Playoff as the No. 1 team in the nation—the highest ranking in school history.
Ohio State, despite the loss, is still projected to finish inside the top four and secure the first-round bye that accompanies it.
