The Indiana vs Ohio State clash at the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game delivered one of the most jaw-dropping upsets in conference history. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 13–10, claiming the program’s first-ever Big Ten title. Behind a suffocating defensive performance and a pivotal third-quarter touchdown, Indiana vs Ohio State became the story of the college football season — and Indiana came out on top.
Indiana vs Ohio State — Final Score
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana Hoosiers (Away) | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Ohio State Buckeyes (Home) | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Indiana vs Ohio State Game Summary
When Indiana vs Ohio State kicked off on December 6, 2025, few expected the Hoosiers to leave Columbus as Big Ten Champions.
Ohio State drew first blood with a Jayden Sayin touchdown pass to Carnell Tate late in the first quarter — a crisp 9-yard strike that gave the Buckeyes a 7–3 lead. Indiana had responded early through a Nick Radicic field goal, but Ohio State’s Jake Fielding extended the advantage to 10–3 with a 30-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
Indiana refused to fold. Radicic converted a 32-yarder just before halftime to pull the Hoosiers within four at the break, keeping Indiana vs Ohio State well within reach.
The turning point of Indiana vs Ohio State came in the third quarter. Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza orchestrated a masterful drive and capped it with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt, giving Indiana its first lead of the game at 12–10. Radicic’s extra point made it 13–10 — a lead Indiana’s defense locked down for the rest of the night.
Ohio State never threatened again, as Indiana’s pass rush registered five sacks and seven tackles for loss in the decisive second half.
Indiana vs Ohio State — Team Statistics
| Stat | Indiana Hoosiers | Ohio State Buckeyes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 13 | 10 |
| Total Yards | 340 | 322 |
| Rushing Yards | 118 | 58 |
| Passing Yards | 222 | 264 |
| Total Plays | 57 | 56 |
| Avg. Gain per Play | 6.0 | 5.8 |
| First Downs | 17 | 17 |
| Time of Possession | 29:47 | 30:13 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Sacks Allowed | 3 | 5 |
| Sack Yards Lost | 10 | 29 |
| Penalties | 5 for 49 yds | 2 for 20 yds |
| Field Goals | 2/3 | 1/2 |
In the Indiana vs Ohio State matchup, both teams finished with identical first-down counts (17 each), but Indiana’s defense made the crucial difference by neutralizing Ohio State’s ground attack and pressuring Sayin into an interception at a critical moment.
Indiana vs Ohio State — Indiana Hoosiers Player Stats
Passing
- Fernando Mendoza — 15/23 completions (65.2%), 222 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Passer rating: 151.95
- Longest completion: 51 yards
- 3 sacks taken for 10 yards lost
Mendoza was the calm conductor Indiana needed in this Indiana vs Ohio State showdown, managing the game efficiently and delivering under pressure when it mattered most.
Rushing
- Team total: 118 yards on 34 carries (avg. 3.5 yds/carry)
- Longest rush: 37 yards
- 5 rushing first downs
Receiving
- Elijah Sarratt — Caught the game-winning 17-yard TD pass in Q3
- Team totals: 15 receptions on 20 targets, 222 yards, 1 TD
- Avg. yards per reception: 14.8
- Longest reception: 51 yards
Kicking
- Nick Radicic — 2/3 FGs (29-yd and 32-yd conversions; one miss)
- Extra point: 1/1
Indiana vs Ohio State — Indiana Hoosiers Defensive Stats
Indiana’s defense was the defining story of Indiana vs Ohio State, completely silencing the Buckeyes in the second half.
| Defensive Stat | Indiana |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 35 solo + 24 assists = 59 combined |
| Sacks | 5.0 (29 sack yards) |
| Tackles for Loss | 7.0 (37 yards) |
| QB Hits | 5 |
| Interceptions | 1 (12-yard return) |
| Passes Defended | 1 |
| 4th Down Stops | 1 |
Indiana’s defensive line was relentless throughout Indiana vs Ohio State — five sacks and seven tackles for loss made Jayden Sayin uncomfortable and disrupted every Ohio State offensive rhythm. The Hoosiers also came away with a crucial interception that halted a dangerous Buckeye drive.
Indiana vs Ohio State — Ohio State Buckeyes Player Stats
Passing
- Jayden Sayin — 22/30 completions (73.3%), 264 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
- Passer rating: 151.59
- Longest completion: 52 yards
- Took 5 sacks for 29 yards lost
Despite his solid completion percentage, Sayin was sacked five times in the Indiana vs Ohio State game — a brutal burden that took Ohio State out of scoring positions repeatedly.
Rushing
- Team total: 58 yards on 26 carries (avg. 2.2 yds/carry)
- Longest rush: 20 yards
- 3 rushing first downs
Ohio State’s inability to run the ball in Indiana vs Ohio State was a fatal flaw, leaving Sayin with no play-action threat and forcing the Buckeyes into obvious passing situations against Indiana’s elite defense.
Receiving
- Carnell Tate — Caught the 9-yard TD strike in Q1
- Team totals: 22 receptions on 27 targets, 264 yards, 1 TD
- Avg. yards per reception: 12.0
- Longest reception: 52 yards
Kicking
- Jake Fielding — 1/2 FGs (made 30-yd; missed one attempt)
- Extra point: 1/1
Indiana vs Ohio State — Ohio State Buckeyes Defensive Stats
| Defensive Stat | Ohio State |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 39 solo + 18 assists = 57 combined |
| Sacks | 3.0 (10 sack yards) |
| Tackles for Loss | 5.0 (13 yards) |
| QB Hits | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 (2-yard return) |
| Passes Defended | 1 |
Ohio State’s defense played well for most of Indiana vs Ohio State but could not make the one critical stop that mattered — surrendering the third-quarter go-ahead touchdown to Sarratt that proved to be the championship-winning score.
Indiana vs Ohio State — Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Description | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 6:55 | N. Radicic 29-yd FG — Indiana | OSU 0 – IND 3 |
| Q1 | 0:53 | J. Sayin pass to C. Tate, 9 yards — Ohio State | OSU 6 – IND 3 |
| Q1 | 0:46 | J. Fielding extra point — Ohio State | OSU 7 – IND 3 |
| Q2 | 10:12 | J. Fielding 30-yd FG — Ohio State | OSU 10 – IND 3 |
| Q2 | 2:50 | N. Radicic 32-yd FG — Indiana | OSU 10 – IND 6 |
| Q3 | 8:07 | F. Mendoza pass to E. Sarratt, 17 yards — Indiana | OSU 10 – IND 12 |
| Q3 | 8:02 | N. Radicic extra point — Indiana | OSU 10 – IND 13 |
Indiana vs Ohio State — Game Analysis
Indiana vs Ohio State was ultimately decided by two factors: Indiana’s ferocious defensive front and Ohio State’s inability to establish any ground game.
The Buckeyes’ rushing attack managed just 58 yards — a crippling total for a team of Ohio State’s caliber — leaving Jayden Sayin to carry the offensive load alone. While Sayin showed quality through the air, Indiana’s pass rushers sacked him five times for 29 yards of losses, repeatedly pushing Ohio State backward and out of field goal range.
On the other side, Fernando Mendoza proved to be an efficient, composed quarterback in the biggest game of his career. He completed nearly two-thirds of his throws and delivered the championship-winning touchdown at exactly the right moment. Indiana’s kicker Nick Radicic also showed nerves of steel, converting two field goals — including a clutch 32-yarder before halftime to keep Indiana within striking distance.
Indiana’s defense, which ranked among the nation’s finest all season, rose to its greatest occasion in Indiana vs Ohio State — logging five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and an interception to ensure Ohio State never launched a fourth-quarter comeback.
The 13–10 final tells the full story of Indiana vs Ohio State: a low-scoring, defensive chess match that was decided by one explosive third-quarter drive and thirty minutes of Indiana dominance that Ohio State simply could not answer.
Frequently Asked Questions — Indiana vs Ohio State
Q: What was the final score of Indiana vs Ohio State in the 2025 Big Ten Championship? A: Indiana defeated Ohio State 13–10.
Q: Who scored the winning touchdown in Indiana vs Ohio State? A: Elijah Sarratt caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Fernando Mendoza in the third quarter to give Indiana the lead for good.
Q: How many sacks did Indiana record against Ohio State? A: Indiana’s defense registered 5 sacks for 29 yards in the Indiana vs Ohio State championship game.
Q: Who was the starting quarterback for Indiana vs Ohio State? A: Fernando Mendoza started for Indiana, while Jayden Sayin started for Ohio State.
Q: Where was the Indiana vs Ohio State Big Ten Championship played? A: The game was played at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio on December 6, 2025.
