Indiana Ends Decades-Long Drought, Defeats Ohio State for First Big Ten Title Since 1967

AJ | AP NEWS

In a landmark victory that reshaped the College Football Playoff landscape, No. 2 Indiana defeated No. 1 Ohio State 13–10 on Saturday night in Indianapolis, securing its first Big Ten championship in nearly fifty years and positioning itself for the top seed in the College Football Playoff. The win capped a historic 13–0 season for the Hoosiers, snapping a 30-game losing streak to the Buckeyes dating back to 1988 and ending Ohio State’s 16-game winning streak, the longest in major college football. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was named the game’s Most Valuable Player, delivered the decisive 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt early in the third quarter. Despite briefly leaving the game after an injury on the first offensive play, Mendoza returned to complete 15 of 23 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. His late-game 33-yard completion to Charlie Becker on third down drained the clock to the two-minute timeout and helped seal the win. “We were never supposed to be in this position, but now we're the flipping champs,” Mendoza said during the postgame celebration. “We are brothers, we know how to stick together and we’re the toughest glue ever.”

Becker, who caught six passes for 126 yards, emphasized the team’s legitimacy following the program-defining performance. “The Hoosiers are real and we are here,” he said. Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, also a Heisman Trophy contender, matched Mendoza statistically—completing 21 of 29 passes for 258 yards, one touchdown, and one interception—but was stopped in critical moments. The Buckeyes were denied on a fourth-and-one at the Indiana 5-yard line when a replay review overturned an initial favorable spot, and kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 29-yard field goal with 2:48 remaining that would have tied the game.Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day reflected on the disappointment. “There's going to be a lot of hard conversations over the next two weeks,” he said. “It hurts, it stings.” With the loss, Ohio State fell to 12–1 and failed to win the Big Ten title for the fifth straight season. Despite the setback, the defending national champions are projected to earn the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the playoff bracket.

For Indiana, the victory represents the pinnacle of a breakthrough season under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, who noted that the challenge now will be maintaining discipline and focus heading into the postseason. “I’ve got three weeks to get these guys humble and hungry,” Cignetti said. Both programs now await Sunday’s unveiling of the College Football Playoff rankings and first-round pairings, which will formally determine their postseason paths.