The Big Ten Championship is almost here, and this one’s got serious stakes. Ohio State and Indiana are set to square off in Indianapolis, with a potential No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff hanging in the balance.
It’s a heavyweight clash - and not just because of the Buckeyes’ national pedigree. Indiana’s got more than a puncher’s chance in this one, and some analysts are ready to call the upset.
CBS Sports analyst Aaron Taylor isn’t just leaning toward Indiana - he’s fully on board. And he’s not basing that on emotion or hype. He’s looking at the trenches, where games like this are so often won and lost.
“On paper, it looks a little bit like David and Goliath,” Taylor said. “But it’s not that way on film.”
That’s a bold statement, especially when you’re talking about an Ohio State team that’s been a fixture in the College Football Playoff conversation for years. But Taylor’s not wrong to focus on the line of scrimmage. That’s where Indiana has made its biggest leap - and it’s the exact area that held them back last year, both against Ohio State and again in the opening round of the playoffs against Notre Dame.
This time around, Taylor sees a tougher, more battle-tested Hoosiers squad - especially up front.
“This offensive line, boys, has been doing work,” he said.
And the film backs that up. Indiana’s front has been steadily improving all season, and now they’re not just holding their own - they’re dictating the pace.
That’s huge when you’ve got a quarterback like Mendoza who can keep defenses honest. Taylor pointed to Michigan’s success running the ball early against Ohio State last week as a blueprint.
But Indiana’s balance, he says, is what could really make the difference.
With Mendoza at the helm and a line that’s been moving bodies, Indiana has the tools to stay in rhythm - and that’s when they’re at their most dangerous.
Taylor isn’t buying the idea that this is going to be a walk in the park for the Buckeyes, no matter what the oddsmakers say.
“This is going to be by far the biggest challenge that Ohio State’s had,” he said. “They will be up for it, but this is a game that Indiana has circled for a while. I believe they’re a little bit more hungry than Ohio State.”
That’s a strong statement - but it speaks to the edge Indiana’s been playing with all season. This isn’t just another game for them. It’s a shot at history, a chance to knock off a perennial powerhouse and punch their ticket to the top of the playoff picture.
Saturday night in Indy, we’ll find out if Indiana’s rise in the trenches is enough to topple one of college football’s giants. One thing’s for sure: this isn’t your typical David vs.
Goliath matchup. Indiana’s coming in with a slingshot - and some serious muscle behind it.