Honestly, if you told any Buckeye fan three years ago that the ohio state football indiana game would be the biggest matchup in the country, they’d have laughed you out of the Varsity Club. But here we are. The 2025 Big Ten Championship game wasn't just another notch on the schedule. It was a 13-10 defensive slugfest that flipped the script on decades of dominance.
The Buckeyes had won 29 straight against Indiana. Twenty-nine. The last time the Hoosiers really got one over on Ohio State, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was topping the charts and Ryan Day was in elementary school. Then came December 6, 2025.
The Night Everything Changed in Indy
Lucas Oil Stadium was split right down the middle, which is weird enough for a game involving Indiana football. Usually, Columbus takes over Indianapolis like it’s a home game away from home. Not this time. No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana. It was the first time two undefeated teams met for the Big Ten crown, and the stakes were basically "winner takes the No. 1 seed in the Playoff."
Ohio State looked like they had it early. Julian Sayin, the redshirt freshman who’s been the talk of the town, found Carnell Tate for a 9-yard touchdown late in the first quarter. 7-3 Buckeyes. It felt like the order of the world was being restored. But Indiana’s defense, led by Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, just wouldn't break. They sacked Sayin five times. Five!
Key Stats from the Big Ten Title Clash
- Total Yards: Indiana 340, Ohio State 322
- Rushing Yards: Indiana 118, Ohio State 58 (A rare day where the Buckeyes couldn't run)
- Passing: Julian Sayin (21/29, 258 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT) vs. Fernando Mendoza (15/23, 222 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT)
- Final Score: 13-10 Indiana
The second half was a blur of frustration. Every time Bo Jackson—who had a decent 83-yard day—seemed to find a hole, the Hoosiers closed it. Then Fernando Mendoza hits Elijah Sarratt for a 17-yard score in the fourth. 13-10. The Buckeyes had one last shot, driving 81 yards, but it ended with Jayden Fielding missing a 27-yard field goal.
You could hear a pin drop on the Ohio State side.
Why This Specific Ohio State Football Indiana Game Matters
It's about more than just one loss. For years, the ohio state football indiana game was the "get right" game. You’d use it to test out the backup quarterback or fix your offensive line issues before the Michigan game. Curt Cignetti changed that. When he told everyone to "Google him," we thought it was just coach-speak. It wasn't.
Indiana finished 13-0 and took the No. 1 seed. Ohio State, despite being 12-1 and having one of the best defenses in school history—shoutout to Sonny Styles for his 12 tackles in that game—had to settle for a lower seed and a trip to the Cotton Bowl.
The Historical Context
Before this, the Buckeyes hadn't lost to Indiana since 1988. We're talking about a series where Ohio State leads 82-13-5. Even the 2020 game, when Indiana was ranked No. 9 and kept it close at 42-35, felt like a fluke. The 2024 matchup was a 38-15 blowout for the Buckeyes.
The 2025 game proved that 2024 wasn't the peak for IU; it was just the warmup.
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What to Expect Moving Forward
If you're looking for actionable takeaways, here’s the reality for the 2026 season and beyond. The Big Ten isn't just a three-team race between OSU, Michigan, and Oregon anymore.
- The Target is on Bloomington: For the first time ever, Ohio State fans are circling the Indiana game as a revenge match. Expect the 2026 meeting in Bloomington to be a "White Out" or some other high-intensity environment.
- Offensive Line Rebuild: After giving up five sacks to the Hoosiers, Ryan Day and Brian Hartline are going to be obsessed with pass protection. Watch the transfer portal for new tackles.
- Sayin’s Growth: Julian Sayin proved he has the arm, but the Indiana game showed he needs to work on his internal clock when the pocket collapses.
The ohio state football indiana game used to be a foregone conclusion. Now? It’s arguably the most high-stakes rivalry in the new-look Big Ten. If you’re planning to attend the 2026 game, buy your tickets early. The prices at Memorial Stadium are already skyrocketing because, for the first time in nearly 40 years, it's a fair fight.
Check the official Ohio State Athletics site for the updated 2026 spring practice schedule to see how the quarterback room is responding to the Indy heartbreak.