Indiana vs. Ohio State: A Big Ten Title Game for the Ages
Let’s be honest-when Indiana opened its Big Ten slate by dropping 63 points on then-No. 9 Illinois, it felt like a one-off.
A statement, sure, but maybe not a sign of something bigger. Then came road wins at Iowa and at then-No.
3 Oregon. That’s when the conversation changed.
That’s when it became real. Indiana wasn’t just hot-they were for real.
And now, here we are, staring down a Big Ten Championship matchup that’s as historic as it is unexpected: undefeated Indiana vs. undefeated Ohio State, with everything on the line.
This isn’t just a clash of two unbeaten teams. It’s only the second time in FBS history that two undefeated programs will meet in a conference title game.
But the real headline? It’s Indiana in this spot.
Not Alabama. Not Georgia.
Not Michigan. Indiana.
And they didn’t sneak in the back door-they kicked it down.
Curt Cignetti’s squad hasn’t just silenced the doubters from last year-they’ve buried the narrative. Remember the 2024 talk?
“They haven’t beaten a real team.” “The schedule was soft.”
The matchup is set: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana 🍿
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) November 29, 2025
Any early predictions? 👇 pic.twitter.com/OwzoARDmYT
“They got smoked by the big boys.” And yeah, those critiques weren’t without merit.
Indiana got handled by both Ohio State and Notre Dame last season, and neither game was close. But 2025?
This has been a different team entirely.
A 53-point win over a top-10 opponent? Check.
Winning on the road at two of the toughest environments in college football? Check.
Grinding out a late-game drive to beat Penn State in Happy Valley? Check.
Indiana’s résumé is airtight. There’s no asterisk.
No “yeah, but.” This team has earned every bit of its spot in Indianapolis.
And then there’s Ohio State. The Buckeyes have done what the Buckeyes do-handle business.
Ryan Day’s crew opened the season with a gritty 14-7 win over then-No. 1 Texas, easing true freshman quarterback Julian Sayin into the spotlight.
Since then, it’s been full throttle. Sayin has grown into the role, and with wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate wreaking havoc downfield, this offense has become a force.
Ohio State hasn’t just won-they’ve dominated. Every game since Texas has been decided by at least 18 points.
The only hiccup? A brief stumble in the first quarter against Michigan last weekend, when Sayin tossed a rare interception and the Wolverines jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
But that moment didn’t last. Sayin bounced back, and the Buckeyes rolled to a 27-9 win in The Game.
Bo Jackson-yes, that Bo Jackson, the freshman running back-posted his third straight 100-yard game, and the defense looked as locked in as it has all season.
So now we arrive at Championship Saturday, the best day of the college football calendar. No matter your allegiance, this is must-see TV.
FOX. 8 p.m. Saturday night.
The stakes? As high as they come.
A Big Ten title. A likely playoff berth.
And for Indiana, a shot at rewriting 37 years of history.
This is only the third time since the Big Ten title game began in 2011 that we’ve had a top-5 showdown. But never before have the No. 1 and No. 2 teams met for the Stagg Trophy.
Last year’s Oregon-Penn State tilt was solid, but this one? This one feels different.
The storylines are endless.
Can Indiana finally snap a 30-game losing streak to Ohio State and win its first Big Ten title since 1967? Can Curt Cignetti, the architect of one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent memory, outduel Ryan Day on the biggest stage?
What about the quarterbacks? Will it be Sayin or Fernando Mendoza who seizes the moment? Both have had Heisman-worthy stretches this season, and Saturday night could be the final word in that debate.
Then there’s the Buckeyes’ receiving corps. Smith and Tate have been nearly unguardable all year.
But Indiana’s defense has been stingy, fast, and opportunistic. Can the Hoosiers slow down the most explosive duo in the country?
And don’t forget the revenge factor. Indiana was embarrassed in last year’s matchup with Ohio State, losing by 23.
Cignetti hasn’t forgotten. You can bet his players haven’t either.
There are no guarantees in this one. No clear favorite, despite the Buckeyes’ pedigree.
All we know is that when the ball is kicked off Saturday night, history is on the line. Indiana’s dream season.
Ohio State’s quest for continued dominance. Two undefeated teams.
One trophy.
We’ve waited all year for a game like this. Now, it’s finally here.