For the first time in years, the Big Ten Championship Game isn’t a formality for Ohio State — it’s a true heavyweight bout. The No. 1 Buckeyes and No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers enter Indianapolis as the last two unbeaten teams in the country, with a conference title and likely the No. 1 College Football Playoff seed on the line.
This isn’t the plucky underdog story you remember from past Indiana teams. This Indiana defense is statistically one of the nastiest units in America, and Ohio State might be facing its toughest test of the season.
Why This Game Is So Massive
-
Big Ten title at stake
-
Winner almost certainly locked into the CFP as the top seed-
Both teams undefeated, ranked 1 and 2 nationally
- Potential
Heisman-clinching stage for Ohio State QB Julian Sayin — or Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
As Eleven Warriors put it, Ohio State is “back in Indianapolis” with a chance to turn a dominant regular season into another conference crown, while Indiana arrives as one of the few teams that looks built to stand toe-to-toe with the Buckeyes on both sides of the ball.
The Matchup: Elite Offense vs. Elite Defense
Ohio State’s Firepower
Ohio State has been destroying teams by
18+ points in 11 straight games, pairing one of the nation’s top scoring offenses with the nation’s stingiest pass defense.
- The Buckeyes rank
No. 1 nationally in passing yards allowed per game (121.3) and
yards allowed per attempt (5.0), the best pass defense in the country.
- Offensively, QB
Julian Sayin has been efficient and explosive, with a receiver room headlined by
Jeremiah Smith and
Carnell Tate turning routine throws into back‑breaking plays.
Fox Sports called Sayin “electric” and highlighted how clean pockets turn this Ohio State offense into a track meet — something Michigan learned the hard way.
Indiana’s Relentless Defense
Indiana’s identity is built around pressure. According to Pro Football Focus data cited by Eleven Warriors, the Hoosiers:
-
Lead the nation with a
41.6% pressure rate on opposing quarterbacks
- Blitz at the
14th-highest clip in the country (48.2%)This is not a passive, bend‑don’t‑break defense. It’s a
movement-heavy, zone-based scheme built to confuse protections and swarm the
Sources
1. Biggest Questions, Players to Watch and Predictions for Ohio State’s Big Ten Championship Game Clash with Indiana
2. IU football game day: Indiana vs. Ohio State Big Ten Championship primer and prediction
3. Conference Championship Game Picks, Preview: What To Expect In Indiana-OSU, More
4. Staff Picks: No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana - Buckeye Huddle
5. Bruce & The Bear: #2 Indiana at #1 Ohio State, Matt Campbell ...
