No. 2 Indiana stunned top-ranked Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday night in the Big Ten Championship Game, snapping a 30-game losing streak to the Buckeyes and capturing the program’s first conference title since 1967.
Fernando Mendoza delivered in the biggest moments, throwing for 222 yards and a touchdown as the Hoosiers (13-0) completed a perfect season under second-year coach Curt Cignetti. His 17-yard strike to Emmett Sarratt midway through the third quarter proved to be the decisive score, capping a seven-play, 88-yard drive that shifted the momentum for good.
Indiana struck first with a 29-yard field goal from Nico Radicic in the opening quarter, but Ohio State responded quickly. Julian Sayin found Carnell Tate for a nine-yard touchdown to put the Buckeyes ahead 7-3. A 30-yard field goal from Jayden Fielding stretched the lead to 10-3 early in the second.
The Hoosiers then settled in. Radicic added a 32-yard kick before halftime, trimming the deficit to 10-6 and setting the stage for a defensive battle the rest of the way.
Ohio State (12-1) had a chance to tie the game late, but Fielding pushed a 27-yard field goal wide with 2:48 remaining, allowing Indiana to run out the clock and secure one of the biggest wins in program history.
The victory marks another milestone in the rapid rise of Cignetti’s tenure, which already includes Indiana’s first CFP appearance and back-to-back undefeated regular seasons.
Indiana will likely get the top-overall seed in the College Football Playoff. As for Ohio State, they'll be looking at either No. 4 or No. 5 in separate scenarios.
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