News
Indiana University Football Stuns Ohio State to Win Big Ten Champions 2025
Dec
Indiana University Football Stuns Ohio State to Win Big Ten Championship
Our products for Indiana Champions at Here.
Indiana University football made history on December 6, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers defeated the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes 13-10 in a thrilling Big Ten Championship Game in front of a record crowd of 68,214 fans. With this victory, Indiana improves to a perfect 13-0, ending Ohio State’s 16-game winning streak and snapping a 30-game drought against the Buckeyes.
This marks Indiana’s third Big Ten Championship in program history. The Hoosiers last claimed the title outright in 1945, finishing 9-0-1, and later shared the championship in 1967 before going to the Rose Bowl. Now, for the first time in program history, Indiana is expected to be revealed as the No. 1 team in the country when the final College Football Playoff rankings are announced. The Hoosiers are two wins away from playing for the National Championship, an achievement few believed possible for IU football.
Dominant Defense and MVP Performance
Indiana’s defense was elite once again, holding Ohio State to just 58 rushing yards, their 11th game this season holding an opponent under 100 yards on the ground—a new program record. The Hoosiers also tallied 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and an interception by Louis Moore.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the offense, completing 15 of 23 passes for 222 yards with a touchdown and interception. His performance earned him the Big Ten Championship Game MVP award.
Other offensive standouts included:
- Charlie Becker: 6 receptions, 126 yards including a crucial 33-yard gain late in the fourth quarter
- Elijah Sarratt: 3 receptions, 37 yards, and the game-winning touchdown
- Kaleon Black & Roman Hemby: 121 combined rushing yards on 29 carries
- Nico Radicic: 2 field goals (missed one)
How the Game Was Won
Indiana struck first with a 29-yard field goal in the opening quarter. However, Ohio State responded with a touchdown late in the first and added a field goal in the second to lead 10-6 at halftime.
The turning point came with 8:02 left in the third quarter, when Mendoza connected with Sarratt for a 17-yard score, giving Indiana a 13-10 lead. In the fourth, Ohio State missed a 27-yard field goal that would have tied the game. Then, on the final play, Julian Sayin completed a 46-yard pass to Jeremiah Smith, but Indiana’s defense stopped him as time expired to seal the championship.
Ohio State Fights Hard
Despite the loss, Ohio State put up a strong effort:
- Julian Sayin: 21-29, 258 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Bo Jackson: 17 carries, 83 yards
- Jeremiah Smith: 8 receptions, 144 yards
- Carnell Tate: 4 receptions, 45 yards, 1 TD
The Buckeyes fall to 12-1 but are still projected as the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff as they look to defend their national championship.
A Season for the History Books
Head Coach Curt Cignetti continues one of the greatest turnarounds in college football history, now boasting a 24-2 record at Indiana. The Hoosiers, once known for having the second-most losses in FBS history, are now the top story in college football.
Next up is the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York, where many believe Fernando Mendoza is now the favorite. If he wins, he would become the first Heisman winner in Indiana University history.
Hoosier Nation can celebrate:
Indiana University football is officially on top of the college football world.
And the dream season is not over yet.
