Indiana Stuns Ohio State for First Big Ten Championship Since 1967

For nearly six decades, Indiana football lived in the shadow of its Big Ten rivals, especially powerhouse Ohio State. The Hoosiers had not lifted a conference championship trophy since 1967. They hadn’t beaten the Buckeyes since 1988. They had not approached national relevance beyond the occasional fleeting October.

But on Saturday night at a roaring Lucas Oil Stadium, everything changed.

With a strong defense, a determined performance from quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and a few key plays that will be remembered for years, No. 2 Indiana defeated No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 to win the 2025 Big Ten Championship. This victory also capped a perfect 13-0 regular season.

The win ended Indiana’s 30-game losing streak against the Buckeyes and ended college football’s longest active winning streak at 16 games. It likely secured the Hoosiers the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff and positioned them to reach the top of the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in school history.

A Championship Decades in the Making

The emotion was palpable on the Indiana sideline as time expired. Players ran onto the field with their helmets raised. Coaches embraced. Thousands of Hoosiers fans—many too young to remember the program’s toughest years—flooded the lower bowl, celebrating a breakthrough few outside Bloomington thought possible.

“This team changed the course of Indiana football,” head coach [fictional or not specified] said after the win. “They believed in each other, believed in the work, and tonight they believed they were the best team in the country.”

For much of the game, Indiana needed that belief.

Ohio State entered as the defending national champion and had spent the season dispatching challengers with a nearly flawless offense led by quarterback Julian Sayin, a Heisman favorite. The Buckeyes came in unbeaten, confident, and eager to secure their third Big Ten title in four seasons.

Indiana, however, was undaunted. From the opening kickoff, the Hoosiers played with the confidence of a seasoned contender instead of a newcomer on the national stage. They forced an early interception from Sayin, pressured him throughout the night, and made Ohio State earn every yard.

“Our defense is the heart of this team,” Mendoza said. “They gave us a chance all night.”

Mendoza’s Night of Resilience

The Hoosiers nearly faced disaster on the first offensive play when Mendoza took a hard hit and temporarily left the game. But after missing just one snap, the junior quarterback returned—hurt but determined.

By the end of the night, he had completed 15 of 23 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. The statistics were modest, but his composure under pressure proved crucial.

The defining moment came midway through the third quarter. Trailing 10-6, Mendoza threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to receiver Elijah Sarratt near the pylon. This precise throw capped a well-executed drive and energized the Indiana fans. The Hoosiers never gave up their lead.

Later, with just over two minutes left and Indiana ahead 13-10, Mendoza delivered once more—this time on 3rd-and-long deep in his own territory. Rolling to his right, he connected with Charlie Becker for a 33-yard pass that changed field position, took valuable time off the clock, and essentially ended the Buckeyes’ championship hopes.

“That’s what great quarterbacks do,” Sarratt said. “When the game is on the line, they step up.”

Buckeyes Stumble at Critical Moments

Sayin also displayed moments of brilliance, completing 21 of 29 passes for 258 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But Ohio State wasted several golden chances.

The most crucial moment came late in the third quarter with the Buckeyes trailing by three. On fourth-and-1 from the Indiana 5-yard line, Sayin lunged forward on a quarterback sneak that was initially ruled a first down. After review, officials decided he was short, giving Indiana the ball and sending a surge of confidence through the Hoosiers’ sideline.

Earlier, Sayin had taken advantage of Mendoza’s first-quarter interception with a quick 17-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate, briefly putting Ohio State ahead 7-3. But after halftime, the Buckeyes struggled to maintain drives against an Indiana defense that tightened with each series.

The final blow came with 2:48 left when kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 29-yard field goal wide left—his most costly miss of the season. The groan from the Ohio State crowd echoed throughout the stadium, and Indiana players erupted in celebration.

“That’s a kick Jayden makes 99 out of 100 times,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “But this game came down to a few inches and a few moments. Indiana made the plays they needed to. Credit to them.”

A Defensive Masterpiece

Indiana’s defensive front, led by a group of experienced veterans, dominated the line of scrimmage for most of the night. The Hoosiers kept consistent pressure with four-man rushes, allowing their secondary to limit big plays.

Linebackers were disciplined in coverage, safeties closed in quickly on the ball, and cornerbacks disrupted Ohio State’s timing just enough to force Sayin into short passes.

The group’s most significant contributions may not have shown in the statistics, but they controlled the pace of the game.

“We knew if we kept everything in front of us and won on third down, we’d give ourselves a chance,” defensive coordinator [fictional or unspecified] said. “Our guys executed the plan perfectly.”

What Comes Next

With this win, Indiana stands out as college football’s most exciting story. From perennial underdog to potential national title contender, the Hoosiers are now waiting for official confirmation of their No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. They will have a first-round bye under the expanded format.

Ohio State, at 12-1, is still expected to claim the No. 2 seed, keeping alive its chances of winning back-to-back national championships—a feat never achieved in program history.

But Saturday night unquestionably belonged to Indiana.

In a season marked by historic moments, none were bigger than the final kneel-downs as red-and-white confetti fell around Mendoza and his joyful teammates.

For the first time since 1967, the Hoosiers are the Big Ten champions. And for the first time ever, the path to the national title may run through Bloomington.