Indiana’s October 17 meeting with Ohio State was already one of the biggest games on the college football calendar. After what happened in Austin, it feels even bigger.
The Buckeyes went into Texas ranked No. 1 and left with a 24-23 loss that flipped the tone around their season in a hurry. Ohio State had controlled the game for three quarters and carried a 23-3 lead into the fourth before the whole thing unraveled. Dropped passes, missed throws, overly conservative play-calling, poor clock management and a missed field goal all showed up in the collapse.
That defeat knocked Ohio State from No. 1 to No. 6 in the AP Top-25 Poll, and it leaves Ryan Day’s team with very little margin for mistake the rest of the way. The schedule doesn’t offer much breathing room, either.
The Buckeyes host Illinois on September 26, then go to No. 18 Iowa on October 3.
After the trip to Bloomington, they still have to face No. 12 USC on the road, No.
21 Oregon at home, Nebraska away and No. 19 Michigan at home.
That’s why Indiana has every reason to expect a fierce response when the Buckeyes arrive. Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers should be bracing for a team that comes in urgent already, and possibly desperate by then depending on how the next few weeks play out. The intensity and physicality figure to be there, and the stakes could be even higher than they were when the matchup first circled the calendar.
The rivalry itself has been building fast over the last two seasons. Indiana and Ohio State are the past two National Champions, and their next meeting has all the ingredients for another heavyweight fight.
Cignetti is 18-1 in Big Ten play during his Indiana tenure, with that lone loss coming against Ohio State in 2024. The Hoosiers got their revenge in the next matchup, last December’s Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis, where they beat the Buckeyes 13-10 in a tense defensive slugfest.
Now the rematch comes with plenty of College Football Playoff implications hanging over it. What was already a marquee game now has the feel of a defining one.
In Other News...
Indiana QB Is Suddenly At The Center Of A Big Ten Shakeup
Indianas quarterback conversation got a lot more interesting after Week 2, and Josh Hoover is right in the middle of it. The Big Ten rankings were updated following the weekends games, and Hoover moved all the way to No. 1 after putting together a strong stretch of performances that pushed him ahead of a crowded field.
Julian Sayin, meanwhile, slid from the top spot to No. 4 after Ohio States loss to Texas, a reminder of how quickly the conference hierarchy can shift in September. USCs Maiava, Penn States Becht and Michigans Underwood all moved as well, leaving Indiana with a signal-caller suddenly standing at the center of a reshuffled race that still has plenty of time to change again. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Sent A Clear Message About Memorial Stadium's Future
Indiana is moving ahead with a significant step in the long-term upkeep of Memorial Stadium, as the universitys Board of Trustees Executive Committee unanimously approved a $40 million renovation plan for the west bowl. The work is aimed at modernizing one of the stadiums most visible fan spaces, with upgrades designed to address infrastructure needs that have built up over time.
The project will add and renovate restroom and concession facilities, including 225 new bathrooms, while also updating existing spaces to meet ADA standards. With completion targeted for fall 2027, the plan gives Indiana a clearer sense of where it wants Memorial Stadium to be headed, even if the full impact of the changes will take a while to show up on game days. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Got Bad News In A Key 2027 Recruiting Fight
Felix Kiehlnekers commitment gave Indiana an early foundation in its 2027 recruiting work, and it fit neatly with Darian DeVries clear emphasis on rebuilding the frontcourt after last seasons struggles. At 7-foot-1, the German center gives the Hoosiers a size piece to point to as they try to reshape the roster and sell a vision of a bigger, sturdier team down the line.
The tougher part is keeping that momentum when the competition tightens, and that is where Darius Wabbington comes in. Indiana has made the five-star recruit one of its top targets, but his decision to move up an official visit to Illinois is another sign that this fight is going to be a real one, with the Hoosiers trying to hold their ground in a recruitment that is only getting more crowded. [Read more 🡒]