**Big Ten Championship Preview: No. 2 Indiana vs.
No. 1 Ohio State - A Clash of Perfection and History**
There’s history on the line in Indianapolis this Saturday night - and not just because it’s the first time Indiana has ever made it to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Hoosiers are chasing something that hasn’t belonged to them outright since 1945: a Big Ten title.
Standing in their way? The defending national champions and the only other unbeaten team in the conference - the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET inside Lucas Oil Stadium, and it’s not just a battle for the conference crown.
It’s No. 1 vs. No.
- It’s two 12-0 teams.
It’s the kind of matchup that defines seasons - and legacies.
Indiana’s Moment
Let’s start with the underdogs - at least on paper. Indiana enters this game 12-0, 9-0 in Big Ten play, and with the No. 1 strength of record in the country.
This isn’t a Cinderella story. This is a team that has earned every bit of its spot in this game.
But the numbers don’t forget the past - and the past hasn’t been kind to the Hoosiers in this matchup.
Indiana hasn’t beaten Ohio State since 1988. That’s 30 straight losses.
In the all-time series, the Buckeyes lead 81-12-5. But this Indiana team isn’t built on ghosts.
It’s built on defense - the No. 2 scoring defense in the country, to be exact, allowing just 10.9 points per game. That unit will be tested like never before.
Ohio State: Still the Standard
Ohio State may be the defending national champs, but this is their first appearance in the Big Ten title game since 2020. That’s a long wait for a program used to dominating this stage. Head coach Ryan Day is in his seventh full season leading the Buckeyes and has racked up an eye-popping 82-10 record during his tenure in Columbus.
This year’s squad is balanced and dangerous. The Buckeyes are No. 13 in scoring offense, averaging 37 points per game, and they’ve done it against legit competition.
They opened the year with a gritty 14-7 win over No. 14 Texas and closed the regular season with a commanding 27-9 win over No.
18 Michigan. Texas was the only team to come within 18 points of them all year.
But it’s the defense that’s been the real headline. Ohio State leads the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 7.8 points per game.
Only two teams have reached double digits against them all season, and the most points they’ve surrendered in a single game? Just 16, to Illinois.
The Quarterback Battle
All eyes will be on Ohio State’s sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin - and for good reason. He’s a Heisman contender for a reason.
Sayin has been surgical this season, completing nearly 79% of his passes for over 3,000 yards, 30 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. He’s a pure pocket passer - he’s rushed for just 27 yards all season - but when you’re that accurate, you don’t need to run.
Indiana’s defense will need to find a way to disrupt Sayin’s rhythm - something no one has consistently done this year. It’s strength vs. strength: Sayin’s precision and poise against one of the stingiest defenses in the nation.
The Matchup Metrics
From a metrics standpoint, this one is razor-thin. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) actually gives Indiana a slight edge - 50.6% to Ohio State’s 49.4%.
That’s despite Ohio State being No. 1 in the FPI rankings and Indiana sitting at No. 2.
The SP+ model projects a 26-25 Ohio State win, but gives Indiana a 48% chance to pull off the upset.
Las Vegas isn’t quite as even-handed. As of Monday morning, Ohio State is roughly a 5.5-point favorite. It’s the first time Indiana has been an underdog since their road trip to Oregon earlier this season.
PFF grades back up the Buckeyes’ dominance: No. 2 offense, No. 4 defense, and No. 23 special teams nationally. That’s a complete football team. But Indiana’s been punching above its weight all season - and they’ve got one more shot to do it on the biggest stage.
Championship Pedigree
This game will be played under the roof at Lucas Oil Stadium - the first indoor game of the season for both teams. No weather, no wind, no excuses. Just football.
And if history is any indication, the Big Ten Championship has been a proving ground for future stars. From Russell Wilson to Justin Fields to Aidan Hutchinson, the MVPs of this game have often gone on to do big things. Saturday night could be the next chapter in that tradition.
Here’s what we know: Indiana is chasing history. Ohio State is defending it. And when the lights go on in Indianapolis, we’re going to find out which one matters more.
Stay tuned - there’s a lot more to unpack as we get closer to kickoff.