Everything felt backwards. On a cold December night in Indianapolis, the lights at Lucas Oil Stadium weren't highlighting the usual suspects. Usually, you see a sea of scarlet and gray celebrating another trophy. But the final big 10 championship game score told a different story: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10.
It was ugly. It was gritty. Honestly, it was the kind of game that makes offensive coordinators want to pull their hair out. But for the Hoosiers, it was perfection.
The Score That Broke the Drought
Nobody expected a 13-10 finish. When you have two top-five teams—specifically the No. 1 Buckeyes and the No. 2 Hoosiers—you expect fireworks. Instead, we got a defensive masterclass that felt more like a 1920s wrestling match than a modern football game.
Indiana hadn't beaten Ohio State since 1988. Think about that. Thirty-six years of "maybe next year." To do it in the biggest game in program history is basically the script of a movie that would get rejected for being too unrealistic.
The game turned on a dime in the third quarter. Ohio State held a slim 10-6 lead at the half. They looked in control, even if they weren't exactly explosive. Then Fernando Mendoza, the Indiana QB who’d been battered and bruised all night, found Elijah Sarratt for a 17-yard touchdown.
That was it. That was the whole game.
Why the Score Stayed So Low
If you just look at the big 10 championship game score, you might think both offenses just stayed on the bus. That's not what happened. Ohio State actually outgained Indiana in total yardage—322 to 340 (it was nearly identical). The difference came down to the "almosts."
- The 4th-and-1 Heartbreak: Ryan Day made a gutsy call. He went for it on the Indiana 5-yard line. Julian Sayin tried to sneak it in. On the field, they called it a first down. After what felt like an eternity of replay reviews, the refs spotted the ball short. Turnover on downs.
- The Missed Kick: With less than three minutes to go, Jayden Fielding stepped up for a 29-yard field goal. It’s a chip shot for a guy of his caliber. He pushed it wide left. The stadium went silent, then erupted in cream and crimson.
- The Sack Parade: Indiana’s defense was relentless. They sacked Sayin five times. Every time the Buckeyes got a rhythm, a Hoosier defender was in the backfield causing chaos.
Comparison: 2024 vs. 2025
It’s wild to compare this to the previous year. In 2024, the big 10 championship game score was a high-flying 45-37 shootout between Oregon and Penn State. That game was about Dillon Gabriel and Tez Johnson putting on a clinic.
2025 was the complete opposite. It was about survival.
Indiana didn't need 40 points to prove they belonged. They just needed one more than the team across from them. By finishing 13-0, Curt Cignetti’s squad didn't just win a game; they fundamentally shifted the power dynamic of the conference.
What This Score Means for the Playoff
Because Indiana secured the win, they locked up the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. They avoided the first round entirely. Ohio State, despite the loss, still had a resume strong enough to snag a first-round bye as well, though the sting of losing the "Game of the Century" is going to linger.
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We’re seeing a new Big 10. With 18 teams in the mix, the path to Indianapolis is harder than ever. You’ve got West Coast powers like Oregon and USC trying to find their footing while "basketball schools" like Indiana are suddenly the kings of the gridiron.
Hard Truths from the Box Score
Let's talk about the quarterbacks. This was supposed to be a Heisman showdown.
Julian Sayin went 21-of-29 for 258 yards. Solid, right? But he threw a costly interception and couldn't find the end zone when it mattered most.
Mendoza? He was 15-of-23 for 222 yards. He didn't have the "better" stats, but he had the 33-yard completion to Charlie Becker on third down that iced the game.
Winning the big 10 championship game score isn't about being the most talented; it’s about who blinks first. Ohio State blinked twice—once on fourth down and once on a field goal.
How to Value These Results
If you're a bettor or a hardcore analyst, there are a few things to take away from this specific scoreline for future seasons:
- Defense still travels: In the expanded Big 10, weather and travel can wear down high-octane offenses. A stout defensive front is more reliable than a star wideout.
- The "Blue Blood" tax: Ohio State is always going to be the favorite, but the gap is closing. Don't automatically assume the big brand wins the tight games.
- Kicking is everything: In a 13-10 game, every yard and every kick is magnified. Special teams are often the most overlooked part of championship prep.
Keep an eye on the transfer portal and recruiting rankings for the upcoming season. While Indiana's win felt like a miracle, the way they built their lines suggests they might be here to stay. If you're looking at future matchups, don't just look at the "points per game" stats. Look at red zone efficiency and sack rates. That’s where the 2025 title was won and lost.
Check the final brackets for the playoff to see if the Hoosiers can carry this defensive momentum all the way to a national title. The path is set, and for the first time in nearly 60 years, it runs through Bloomington.