Indiana beats Ohio State to win Big Ten title, lock up top playoff seed
Summary
No. 2 Indiana upset No. 1 Ohio State in Indianapolis on 6 December 2025 to claim the Big Ten championship — the Hoosiers’ first conference title since 1967. A pivotal 17-yard touchdown from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt midway through the third quarter put Indiana ahead, and an uncompromising Hoosiers defence kept Ohio State off the scoreboard. A missed field goal by Ohio State’s Jayden Fielding late in the game compounded the Buckeyes’ troubles and helped seal Indiana’s victory. The win also locks Indiana into the top seed for the College Football Playoff.
Key Points
- Indiana defeated No. 1 Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship in Indianapolis (6 Dec 2025).
- Fernando Mendoza threw a 17-yard touchdown to Elijah Sarratt that gave Indiana the lead in the third quarter.
- Indiana’s defence dominated, effectively shutting down Ohio State’s offence for large stretches.
- Ohio State missed a crucial field-goal attempt (Jayden Fielding), which proved costly.
- The Hoosiers’ win is their first Big Ten title since 1967 and earns them the top seed in the College Football Playoff.
Why should I read this?
Because this wasn’t just another rivalry game — it’s a proper shocker with big postseason consequences. Indiana knocking off the top-ranked Buckeyes and claiming a first Big Ten crown in decades rewrites the playoff picture and gives college-football fans a fresh storyline to follow. If you care about rankings, March-to-January momentum or underdog runs, this one’s worth the read.
