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Ohio State vs. Indiana final score, results: Fernando Mendoza leads Hoosiers to stunning Big Ten Championship

Daniel Chavkin

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Ohio State vs. Indiana final score, results: Fernando Mendoza leads Hoosiers to stunning Big Ten Championship image

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On Saturday night, Indiana made history.

In a battle of undefeated teams, the Hoosiers outlasted Ohio State to win the Big Ten championship, 13-10. The win is Indiana's first Big Ten title since 1967, first victory over the Buckeyes since 1988, and cements the best season in program history.

The game was a low-scoring, defensive battle that featured just two touchdowns. Both quarterbacks threw early interceptions, but while Indiana converted its turnover into only a field goal, Ohio State turned theirs into a touchdown.

However, the Hoosiers’ defense confused Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin and the prolific Buckeyes offense all night. Indiana collected five sacks, nearly matching Sayin's total number of sacks for the season.

Ohio State took a 10-6 lead into halftime, but Indiana’s offense responded with the biggest drive of the season in the third quarter. Heisman frontrunner Fernando Mendoza orchestrated an 88-yard touchdown drive that included a 51-yard pass and a 17-yard scoring run.

The game ultimately came down to two crucial defensive stops on Ohio State's final drives. First, the Hoosiers held Sayin short on a fourth-down QB sneak, then forced a short-field goal attempt that resulted in a miss.

With the win, Indiana will likely be the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff, a remarkable accomplishment for Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers. Ohio State will drop in the rankings but will still likely earn a first-round bye.

AllSportsPeople tracked live scores, updates, and highlights from the Big Ten Championship between Ohio State and Indiana. Here's what happened.

MORE: Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. Leaves game with ankle injury

Ohio State vs. Indiana football final score

 

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Ohio State vs. Indiana highlights, results from 2025 Big Ten championship game

All times eastern

Final: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

11:24 p.m.: Sayin's final pass is completed well short, and Indiana wins the Big 10 champions! The Hoosiers win their first outright Big 10 championship since 1967, and beat Ohio State for the first time since 1988.

11:22 p.m.: With 19 seconds left, the Buckeyes need to get within hail-mary range.

11:19 p.m.: On 3rd-and-7, Indiana keeps the ball on the ground to wind the clock. Ohio State will get the ball back with under 20 seconds left.

11:16 p.m.: The Hoosiers are now trying to run out the clock, as the game clock is now at 1:09. Ohio State is out of timeouts.

11:11 p.m.: Mendoza goes deep to Becker again, converting another big first down. Indiana is now at midfield and Ohio State has just one timeout.

11:10 p.m.: Ohio State gets two quick tackles to set up 3rd-and-6 for the Hoosiers.

11:03 p.m.: MISSED FIELD GOAL! Fielding misses the short attempt with under three minutes left in the game. Indiana gets the ball back looking to ice the game.

11:02 p.m.: Indiana's Rolijah Hardy produces a massive pass breakup on third down to force a short Ohio State field goal attempt.

11:00 p.m.: Ohio State calls a trick play on another 3rd-and-8, but the Buckeyes are bailed out by a 15-yard Indiana penalty to get into field-goal range. 

10:57 p.m.: Facing another third down, Sayin escapes the pocket and finds Carnell Tate down the field to extend the drive.

10:55 p.m.: Sayin completes a big first down with a check-down completion to C.J. Donaldson.

10:53 p.m.: Two-straight Bo Jackson runs gives the Buckeyes a first down. Jackson is very close to a huge run.

10:48 p.m.:  Ohio State is able to stall the Hoosiers as Mendoza's third-down pass falls incomplete. 

10:45 p.m.: Indiana is methodically moving the ball down the field with its running backs and timely Mendoza passes.

End of third quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

10:39 p.m.: Mendoza gets Indiana some breathing room with a first down pass to E.J. Williams Jr.

10:38 p.m.: Upon further review, Sayin is ruled short of the line-to-gain, so Indiana gets a huge fourth down stop.

10:34 p.m.: On 4th-and-1, Sayin sneaks to move the chains and set of 1st-and-goal from inside the five.

10:31 p.m.: Sayin has the Buckeyes driving with several completions, including a back-shoulder pass to Jeremiah Smith to get the WR over 100 yards on the day.

10:29 p.m.: The Buckeyes' first third-down conversion of the game comes on a third-quarter pass from Julian Sayin to Brandon Inniss.

10:27 p.m.: Ohio State is trailing in the second half for the first time this year. However, they haven't converted a third down all game.

Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

10:22 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Mendoza completes to Elijah Sarratt in the endzone to give the Hoosiers the lead.

10:19 p.m.: Mendoza connects with Charlie Becker for a huge 51-yard play to set up Indiana in Ohio State territory.

10:14 p.m.: The Buckeyes play it safe and are forced to punt it away, giving Indiana the ball back down four.

10:13 p.m.: Indiana gets back-to-back sacks as the officials rule Sayin "in the grasp" on the second play. Ohio State faces a long third down.

10:10 p.m.: Bo Jackson gains 20 yards on a carry to get Ohio Sate right back into Indiana territory.

10:09 p.m.: We are back for the second half, as the Buckeyes get the ball to open the frame.

HALFTIME: Ohio State 10, Indiana 6

9:42 p.m.: Indiana opts to run the clock out and take this game to halftime.

9:40 p.m.: Indiana's defense sacks Sayin on second down, setting up 3rd-and-8 with under a minute left. Then Sayin throws an incomplete pass to end the drive.

Ohio State 10, Indiana 6

9:32 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Radicic makes a 32-yarder to cut the lead to four.

9:31 p.m.: The Buckeyes' defensive line is hounding Mendoza. Indiana's QB gets sacked on two-straight plays to set up third-and-long.

9:28 p.m.: Indiana goes for it on 4th-and-2, and Mendoza completes a pass under pressure to Riley Nawakowski for a big nine yards.

9:22 p.m.: Indiana overcomes a holding penalty as the offense produces three chunk plays, ending in a Mendoza completion to Charlie Becker.

9:19 p.m.: Omar Cooper Jr. Remains on the sidelines for Indiana as the Hoosiers look for their first touchdown of the game.

Ohio State 10, Indiana 3

9:15 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Jaydin Fielding nails a chip-shot to increase the lead.

9:14 p.m.: The Hoosiers' defense comes up with a big sack to hold Ohio State to a field goal attempt.

9:11 p.m.: Sayin goes deep to Jeremiah Smith for over 50 yards as the Buckeyes are back in the red zone.

9:08 p.m.: MISSED FIELD GOAL! Indiana gets no points as Nico Radicic misses the short field goal, his first miss this season.

9:07 p.m.: The Buckeyes' defense once again sacks Mendoza on third down to force a field goal attempt, stalling the drive.

End of first quarter: Ohio State 7, Indiana 3

9:01 p.m.: Kaelon Black takes the handoff over 30 yards, and the Hoosiers are on the edge of the red zone now.

8:59 p.m.: On the first play of the next drive, Indiana induces a pass interference penalty to jump-start the offense.

Ohio State 7, Indiana 3

8:57 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Sayin scrambles and finds Carnell Tate in the back of the endzone for six.

8:55 p.m.: A few Indiana penalties have Ohio State with a 1st-and-goal at the 4-yard-line.

8:50 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Now Mendoza is picked off as Ohio State jumps a screen pass.

8:49 p.m.: Mendoza takes a designed run for a first down to give Indiana some yardage in its own zone.

8:48 p.m.: Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. Is dealing with an injury, as Fox reports he is being evaluated by the medical staff.

8:43 p.m.: Indiana sacks Sayin on 3rd-and-short, as Ohio State will punt the ball near midfield.

8:41 p.m.: Sayin finds Smith and Carnell Tate on back-to-back passes to get a first down.

Indiana 3, Ohio State 0

8:36 p.m.: FIELD GOAL! Indiana opens the scoring with 3.

8:35 p.m.: Ohio State's defense holds Indiana to a field goal attempt as Mendoza's 3rd-and-10 pass falls incomplete.

8:33 p.m.: Mendoza has Indiana's offense moving as they have first down at the 11-yard line.

8:32 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Indiana's Louis Moore picks of Sayin in Buckeyes territory to set up the Hoosiers.

8:29 p.m.: Julian Sayin to Jeremiah Smith opens things for the OSU offense, gaining a first down on their first play.

8:26 p.m.: Caden Curry, who hit Mendoza on the first play, gets to the Indiana QB on third down to end the drive. The Hoosiers punt it away.

8:24 p.m.: Mendoza's first throw since the injury gains ten yards, as the quarterback seems ok.

8:22 p.m.: Alberto Mendoza hands off on his first play from scrimmage, but Fernando jogs back onto the field afterwards.

8:20 p.m.: On the fisrt play of the game, Fernando Mendoza takes a huge hit and is still on the ground in pain. Alberto Mendoza is Indiana's backup.

8:19 p.m.: Ohio State kicks a touchback on the kickoff and we are underway.

8:16 p.m.: Ohio State wins the toss but will defer, so Indiana gets the ball first in the Big 10 championship.

8:14 p.m.: We are about to begin live from Indianapolis to decide who will be the No. 1 seed in the CFP.

8:06 p.m.: The Buckeyes are feeling support from the Ohio State faithful in Indianapolis tonight.

7:37 p.m.: This game may also decide the Heisman Trophy, as quarterback Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza are two of the top contenders.

7:09 p.m.: Indiana players have arrived at Lucas Oil Stadium for this battle of undefeated teams.

6:36 p.m.: Ryan Day arrived in Indianapolis with a bright-red jacket, ready to fight for another Big 10 Championship.

6:10 p.m.: Indiana is ready for its first ever Big 10 Championship appearance.

How to watch 2025 Big Ten championship game

Ohio State vs. Indiana start time

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 6
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. ET

The Big Ten Championship between Ohio State and Indiana will kickoff at 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday night from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. It will be one of the two final games to close out championship weekend.

What channel is Ohio State vs. Indiana on today?

  • TV Channel: Fox
  • Live Stream: Fubo

Fox will broadcast the Big Ten Championship game this year, as Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt will be on the call. Those looking for an alternate streaming option can use Fubo, which offers a free trial to new users.

College football schedule for conference championship week

Friday, December 5

MatchupTime (ET)TV Channel
Kennesaw State vs. Jacksonville State7:00 p.m.CBS Sports Network
Troy vs. James Madison7:00 p.m.ESPN
North Texas vs. Tulane8:00 p.m.ABC
UNLV vs. Boise State8:00 p.m.Fox

Saturday, December 6

MatchupTime (ET)TV Channel
BYU vs. Texas Tech12:00 p.m.ABC
Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan12:00 p.m.ESPN
Georgia vs. Alabama4:00 p.m.ABC
Indiana vs. Ohio State8:00 p.m.Fox
Duke vs. Virginia8:00 p.m.ABC
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