How Indiana Ended Ohio State’s 30-Year Reign: Big Ten Championship Stats Breakdown

When the final whistle blew at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 6, 2025, the scoreboard read Indiana 13, Ohio State 10. For anyone who follows college football, those numbers carried the weight of three decades.

The Hoosiers had just snapped a 30-game losing streak to the Buckeyes — a streak that stretched back to 1988. They did it not with a shootout or a miracle Hail Mary, but with something far rarer in modern college football: suffocating defense, quiet efficiency, and ice-cold poise when the game was on the line.

This breakdown goes beyond the final score. It examines every meaningful number from that night and explains what each one actually tells us.

Quarter-by-Quarter Scoring {#scoring}

Neither offense dominated this game — both defenses did. The scoring was sparse, deliberate, and decided by who made the fewest costly mistakes.

Indiana Ends Ohio State opened the scoring when Nico Radicic split the uprights on a 29-yard field goal late in the first quarter, capping a short drive. Ohio State responded effectively—to take a 7-3 lead going into the second quarter, Julian Sayin connected Carnell Tate on a 9-yard touchdown throw.

Jayden Fielding extended that advantage to 10–3 early in the second quarter with a 30-yard field goal. Radicic answered before halftime with a 32-yarder, trimming the gap to 10–6.

Then, midway through the third quarter, Fernando Mendoza changed everything. He dropped back, found Elijah Sarratt on a 17-yard crossing route, and the Hoosiers took their first lead — 13–10 — a margin they would never surrender.

It was an attrition war in the fourth quarter.. Ohio State had two real chances to flip the result: a fourth-and-1 at the Indiana 5-yard line that Sayin was ruled short on after replay review, and a 29-yard field goal attempt by Fielding with under three minutes left that drifted wide left.

That miss was the final nail.

Team Stats at a Glance {#team-stats}

Both teams came in averaging over 37 points per game. Neither cracked 14. That tells you everything about how this game was played.

Source: ESPN box score

The rushing differential is where Indiana’s dominance becomes undeniable. The Hoosiers gained 118 yards on the ground at 3.5 yards per carry. Ohio State managed just 58 yards at 2.2. For a Buckeye offense that hadn’t been held under 100 rushing yards since a road trip to Wisconsin earlier in the season, this was a stunning collapse of a usually reliable unit.

Indiana also converted on its lone fourth-down attempt — a critical 1-for-1. Ohio State went 0-for-1 at the most pivotal moment of the game.

Quarterback Duel: Mendoza vs. Sayin {#qb-duel}

Entering this game, both quarterbacks were legitimate Heisman contenders. Both played well. The margin between them came down to the sacks allowed and one costly moment.

Fernando Mendoza (Indiana)

Mendoza’s night nearly ended before it started. He left the field injured on Indiana’s very first offensive snap, missing exactly one play before returning. What followed was one of the gutsiest performances of the college football season.

He finished 15-of-23 for 222 yards, a touchdown, and one interception — good for a 151.9 passer rating. His 9.7 yards per attempt was exceptional given the defensive environment.

The moment that sealed his MVP award came on third-and-6 with 2:41 left on the clock. With Ohio State’s pass rush bearing down and the season on the line, Mendoza stepped up and fired a 33-yard strike to Charlie Becker, forcing the Buckeyes to burn their final timeout. The game was effectively over.

Julian Sayin (Ohio State)

Sayin was sharp in terms of pure completion numbers — 21-of-29 for 258 yards at 72.4%. His 9-yard touchdown pass to Tate was crisp, and he consistently found his receivers against Indiana’s coverage.

But Indiana’s pass rush rendered those positive numbers largely academic. Sayin was sacked five times for 29 yards in losses — a season-high pressure rate. The fourth-quarter interception, combined with those sacks, proved decisive.

Side-by-Side Comparison

The passer ratings are almost identical. The QBR gap — 89.6 to 61.1 — tells the fuller story of situational effectiveness.

The Ground Game {#rushing}

Indiana didn’t run for big plays. They ran consistently, wore down Ohio State’s front, and chewed clock in the moments that mattered most.

Indiana Rushing Breakdown

Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby combined for 29 carries and 121 yards — a steady, punishing effort that kept Ohio State’s offense off the field. Neither broke a game-changing run, but neither had to.

Ohio State Rushing Breakdown

Bo Jackson actually ran well — 4.9 yards per carry is solid. The problem was the sacks. Sayin’s –29 yards dragged the team total down to 58, masking the fact that Indiana’s run defense, while solid, didn’t completely shut down the carry game. The pass rush was what truly crippled Ohio State on the ground.

Ohio State went without a rushing first down in the entire second half — a staggering stat for a program known for physical football.

 Receiving Leaders {#receiving}

Two receivers elevated this game above a defensive slog: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Indiana’s Charlie Becker.

Ohio State Receiving

Jeremiah Smith was simply remarkable. Eight catches, 144 yards, a 52-yard deep ball that shifted field position dramatically, and a 46-yard grab on the final drive that had every Indiana fan holding their breath. He accounted for more than half of Ohio State’s total receiving output and — in defeat — reinforced his status as one of the top NFL draft prospects in the country.

Indiana Receiving

Charlie Becker was Indiana’s clutch factor. His 51-yard reception set up the go-ahead score. His 33-yard catch on the final drive sealed it. In the moments when the Hoosiers needed a play, Becker made one.

Defensive Dominance {#defense}

This game was won in the trenches, and both defenses deserve recognition for their performances.

Ohio State entered the championship as the nation’s top total defense, allowing just 203.0 yards per game. Indiana ranked fourth, giving up 253.5. Both units showed up and then some.

Indiana Defense

• 5 sacks on Sayin (season-high pressure rate)
• 9 tackles for loss
• 1 interception
• Held Ohio State to 2.2 yards per rush
• Stopped Ohio State on fourth-and-1 at the IU 5-yard line
• Surrendered zero points in the second half

Linebacker Isaiah Jones was the standout performer — two sacks, constant disruption, and the physical intensity that defined Indiana’s defensive identity all season. The pass rush as a collective unit operated at a level Ohio State simply couldn’t handle.

Ohio State Defense

• 3 sacks on Mendoza
• 4 tackles for loss
• 1 interception
• Held Indiana to 3.5 yards per rush
• Forced 7 of 13 failed third-down conversions

The Buckeye defense was excellent too. Three sacks on an injured quarterback, limiting Indiana to 340 total yards against a team averaging 483 per game — that’s not failure, that’s a great defense getting outplayed by a slightly better one on a specific night.

Special Teams — The Kick That Changed Everything {#special-teams}

Indiana’s Nico Radicic was automatic when it counted. Two field goals — 29 and 32 yards — plus the extra point following Sarratt’s touchdown. Seven of Indiana’s 13 points came off his right foot.

Ohio State’s Jayden Fielding made his 30-yarder in the second quarter without trouble. But with 2:48 remaining and his team trailing by three, a 29-yard attempt — a kick most Division I kickers make in their sleep — sailed wide left.

That miss ended Ohio State’s season.

Players Who Defined the Game {#key-players}

Fernando Mendoza — Game MVP
Played through an early injury, delivered the go-ahead touchdown pass, and executed the game-sealing drive with the kind of composure that coaches spend careers trying to develop in players. His 151.9 passer rating and 9.7 yards per attempt in a championship game, against the nation’s top defense, is exceptional.

Charlie Becker — The Clutch Factor
Six catches, 126 yards, and two crucial receptions in the game’s final five minutes. Becker transformed from a reliable secondary option into an unstoppable weapon at precisely the right moment.

Jeremiah Smith — Elite Even in Defeat
Eight catches, 144 yards, and moments of pure brilliance that couldn’t ultimately save the Buckeyes. His performance was a preview of what NFL franchises will be paying for in a couple of years.

Isaiah Jones — Defensive Anchor
Two sacks, relentless pressure, and the defensive leadership that Curt Cignetti’s system is built around. Jones personified Indiana’s identity on that side of the ball.

Historical Context: What This Win Really Meant {#history}

Ohio State leads the all-time series between these programs 81–13–5 across 99 meetings. Before December 6, 2025, the Buckeyes had won 30 straight against Indiana — the longest active winning streak any program had against a single opponent in college football.

Indiana’s previous victory over Ohio State came on October 15, 1988 — a 41–7 blowout in Bloomington. Anyone born after that game was alive for the entirety of the streak.

This was also the first postseason meeting between the two programs.

Curt Cignetti took a 3–9 program in 2023 and built it into a Big Ten champion in two seasons. His back-to-back AP Coach of the Year awards (2024 and 2025) reflect what might be the most dramatic program turnaround in recent college football history

Season Stats That Set the Stage {#season-stats}

Both teams arrived undefeated. The numbers behind those records were genuinely impressive.

Source: The Athletic

Ohio State’s defense was historically stingy — allowing just 5.9 points per game in the regular season. Indiana’s offense ranked third nationally in scoring. Something had to give.

Indiana’s 2025 Season Leaders:
Fernando Mendoza — 3,535 passing yards, 33 TDs, 71.5% completion rate
Roman Hemby — 1,120 rushing yards, 7 TDs
Omar Cooper Jr. — 13 total touchdowns

Ohio State’s 2025 Season Leaders:
Julian Sayin — 3,610 passing yards, 32 TDs, 177.5 passer rating
Bo Jackson — 1,090 rushing yards
Jeremiah Smith — 1,243 receiving yards, 12 TDs, 87 receptions
Sonny Styles — 83 total tackles

CFP Impact and Heisman Fallout {#cfp-heisman}

The championship win gave Indiana the No. 1 overall seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff — the first time the program had ever earned that distinction. The Hoosiers received a first-round bye, then dismantled Alabama 38–3 in the Rose Bowl before crushing Oregon 56–22 in the Peach Bowl semifinal.

Ohio State earned the No. 2 seed as a 12–1 at-large selection despite the loss.

Fernando Mendoza claimed the 2025 Heisman Trophy with 2,362 total points and 643 first-place votes — finishing more than 900 points ahead of runner-up Diego Pavia. His season totals: 2,980 passing yards, a nation-leading 33 touchdown passes, 6 interceptions, and a 71.5% completion rate.

Coaching Decisions by the Numbers {#coaching}

Curt Cignetti’s game plan was built around three principles: run the ball, generate pressure, and don’t beat yourself.

Indiana ran the ball 34 times to Ohio State’s 26. Those extra eight carries represent significant clock management — possessions Ohio State never got. The Hoosiers blitzed on 42% of Sayin’s dropbacks, generating their five sacks without relying on any single player to do the work.

Ohio State converted just 33% of their third downs. That number, more than anything else, explains why their offense never found a rhythm.

Ryan Day’s response to the loss was direct: he assumed offensive play-calling duties for the CFP run, relieving coordinator Brian Hartline of those responsibilities. It was an acknowledgment that something needed to change — and that the championship game exposed it.

Complete Stats Reference Tables {#full-stats}

Full Team Statistics

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Defense & Special Teams

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of the 2025 Big Ten Championship?

Indiana defeated Ohio State 13–10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on December 6, 2025.

How many passing yards did Fernando Mendoza throw for?

Mendoza finished 15-of-23 for 222 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and a 151.9 passer rating — earning game MVP honors.

What was Ohio State’s rushing total in the championship game?

The Buckeyes gained just 58 rushing yards on 26 carries. Bo Jackson ran well individually (83 yards on 17 carries), but five sacks on Sayin cost the team nearly 30 yards in the team total.

Who won the 2025 Heisman Trophy?

Fernando Mendoza won with 2,362 total points and 643 first-place votes, finishing over 900 points clear of runner-up Diego Pavia.

What is the all-time series record between Indiana and Ohio State?

Ohio State leads 81–13–5 through 99 meetings. The Buckeyes won 30 straight between 1991 and 2024. Indiana’s previous win came in 1988.

What CFP seed did Indiana receive after winning the Big Ten?

Indiana earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff, their first ever, with a first-round bye included.

The Bottom Line

A 13–10 final score sounds like a grinding, forgettable game. This was neither. It was a masterclass in defensive football, a story of a quarterback playing through pain to lead the biggest win in his program’s modern history, and a kicker on the other sideline whose miss will be remembered for decades.

Indiana’s front seven dismantled Ohio State’s offensive line. Charlie Becker made every contested catch that mattered. Fernando Mendoza did what great quarterbacks do — he found a way.

Curt Cignetti took a 3–9 team and won a Big Ten title in two years. That context makes every number in this article mean something more than what it shows on the surface.

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