Caleb Downs Embraces Big Ten Grind as Ohio State Eyes Perfection
December football hits differently in Columbus. The stakes are higher, the lights shine brighter, and for Ohio State, the path to perfection now runs through Indianapolis.
The No. 1 Buckeyes are gearing up for a heavyweight showdown against No.
2 Indiana this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium, with a 13-0 record and a College Football Playoff berth on the line.
But as the Buckeyes prepare for their biggest test yet, one of their key defensive leaders is offering some insight into what it means to represent Ohio State - and the Big Ten - on the national stage.
Safety Caleb Downs, a standout transfer from Alabama, didn’t hold back when discussing the contrast between life in the SEC and his new home in the Big Ten. Speaking on the podcast See Ball, Get Ball, Downs gave a candid comparison of the two powerhouse conferences, drawing from firsthand experience in both.
“In the SEC, you’re playing a big-time opponent every weekend,” Downs said. “At Bama, it was like, ‘Alright, we’ve got Tennessee this week, LSU next, then Auburn after that.’
You’re going up against dudes every single week. You’ve got to get your body and your mind right for that kind of grind.”
That’s the kind of gauntlet that for years has defined the SEC’s identity - relentless, physical, and deep from top to bottom. But Downs isn’t just echoing old narratives.
He’s lived it. And now, with a season in the Big Ten under his belt, he’s starting to see the value in a different kind of challenge.
“In the Big Ten, you might only get four or five games in a season where you’re facing that top-tier competition,” Downs explained. “Those are the weeks where you’ve really got to be at your best. That’s a difference.”
But he’s also quick to acknowledge that his early impressions of the Big Ten may have underestimated the conference’s strength - especially when it’s time to face off against the SEC in bowl season.
“I said that when I first got to Ohio State,” Downs admitted. “But then I watched a lot of Big Ten teams beat SEC teams in bowl games last year. So that kind of negated what I said.”
That’s not just a walk-back - it’s a reflection of a player who’s learning, adapting, and buying into the culture around him. For Downs, who’s already made a major impact in the Buckeyes’ secondary, this isn’t just about adjusting to a new conference. It’s about helping Ohio State carry the Big Ten banner into the postseason spotlight.
And make no mistake - that spotlight is coming.
With the CFP just around the corner, every snap matters. Every defensive stop, every turnover, every inch of effort will be magnified. And for a player like Downs, who’s already been through the SEC’s crucible, the chance to bring that experience to a championship-caliber Buckeyes squad is exactly why he made the move.
Now, he’s got a shot to do what few players ever get to - chase a national title with two different blue-blood programs. And if Ohio State keeps rolling, that dream could become reality in just a few weeks.
But first, there’s business to handle in Indianapolis.