Indiana’s grind-it-out win over Ohio State in the Big Ten championship delivered the program’s first league title in generations.
It pushed quarterback Fernando Mendoza to the front of the Heisman Trophy race. The Hoosiers’ 13-10 victory over the top-ranked Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium also likely secured the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff.
Fernando Mendoza leads the Heisman odds
No. 2 Indiana (13-0) leaned on its defense and a few timely throws from Mendoza to beat No. 1 Ohio State (12-1) and snap a Big Ten title drought that stretched back decades. The Hoosiers took the lead for good on a third-quarter touchdown and twice turned away potential tying or go-ahead Buckeye drives in the second half.
Mendoza finished 15 of 23 for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception, hitting Elijah Sarratt on a 17-yard scoring strike that put Indiana ahead 13-10 midway through the third quarter. Early Saturday afternoon, Mendoza was among the top three finalists, alongside Ohio State's Julian Sayin and Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. But many analysts, as well as sports books, agree that the Big 10 Championship winner would determine the Heisman winner.
"MY HEISMAN WANTS TO SING THAT DAMN SONG" @indianafootball pic.twitter.com/q7Azu57YdQ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 7, 2025
The 2025 Heisman Trophy ceremony is Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, in New York. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Eastern time. It will be broadcast nationally on ABC, which is carrying the Heisman presentation for the first time after years on ESPN.
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