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Indiana Upsets Ohio State, Claims Big Ten Title

PUBLISHED Dec 6, 2025, 12:43 PM ET

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Indiana Upsets Ohio State, Claims Big Ten Title

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 8

Left 13%

Center 87%

Sources: 8

Indianapolis, Indiana defeated Ohio State 13-10 in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday, securing the Hoosiers' first conference title in decades and likely earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. Fernando Mendoza threw a key 17-yard touchdown to Elijah Sarratt and Indiana's defense held Ohio State scoreless late. Ohio State's missed field-goal attempt kept the margin at three points; the Buckeyes likely will drop in CFP rankings but still receive a first-round bye. Game statistics came from box-score reports. Indiana will play Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

By Neha R. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

Prior to the game: both Ohio State and Indiana entered the Big Ten title game unbeaten (12-0 records).
Precedent: the last times two top-ranked teams met in a conference title were during the 2008-09 SEC seasons.
Game day: Indiana scored a 17-yard touchdown from Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt in the third quarter and held the lead.
Late game: Ohio State missed a critical field-goal attempt; defensive stands preserved Indiana's 13-10 win.
Aftermath: Indiana likely secured the No. 1 College Football Playoff seed and will play Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 8
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 7
Distribution:: Left 13%, Center 88%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Indiana University's football program, players, coaches, Big Ten conference partners, and broadcasters benefited from elevated rankings, increased national exposure, and stronger postseason positioning following the championship victory.

Who Impacted

Ohio State's football program, coaches, players, and institutional stakeholders suffered a setback in conference standing, national ranking, and immediate College Football Playoff seeding prospects after the loss.