In the church of college football, there is no Big Ten game more important than Ohio State and Michigan. The conference championship game is a close second, and there is no shortage of storylines to make Saturday's clash in Indianapolis a true spectacle.
The Buckeyes boast the best roster in college football. The Indiana Hoosiers, in a pseudo-home game, have the sport's best quarterback. Both teams have made strong cases for a top seed in the College Football Playoff, and with no shortage of draftable talent to parse, scouts will have their eyes locked in on Indy.
Top 10 prospects in the Big Ten Championship Game
1. Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State
Call him a linebacker, call him an edge rusher, call him a hybrid. It doesn't matter. Reese has been the best defensive player in college football this season, acting as a force multiplier for Matt Patricia's defense.
Reese offers preternatural strength for a 245-pound frame and burst that repeatedly shows up when chasing down quarterbacks. There's a path for him to follow Micah Parsons' footsteps as a full-time pass rusher at the next level, and I have no concerns about his ability to play the run from depth and on the edge.
Reese has plenty of fluidity and spatial awareness in coverage, too, but his valuable skills at the line of scrimmage headline his game.
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
It goes without saying that this is the biggest game of Mendoza's career. He'll be operating with a talent disadvantage against college football's closest equivalent to an NFL defense. While it would be a stretch to say a bad outing would spoil his stock, a strong showing might cement him as the draft's top passer.
Mendoza checks the boxes from an arm talent perspective, boasting the accuracy and the willingness to stretch the field. His intangibles are strong, but Ohio State is more than capable of putting Indiana behind the eight ball. Stress testing his poise could be the story of Saturday's showdown.
3. Caleb Downs, SAF, Ohio State
Downs was the second-best player on my preseason board, and he's done just about everything in his power to maintain his stock. The emergence of others (like Reese) and limited positional value may move him down the board, but he's still an excellent prospect with versatility, athleticism, and experience on his side.
Patricia uses him all over the field, and Downs has continued to make plays over the top, in the slot, and in the box. His future role is uncertain, but Downs is on the favorable side of the "versatile vs. Positionless" spectrum. He has the processing to be around the football, significant roles in Nick Saban and Patricia's defenses, and a track record of getting physical in the box. I wouldn't scoff at anyone penciling Downs as their top prospect come April.
4. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
Tate was a top-50 prospect and a second-round pick on my preseason board, but his argument to be the best receiver in the class is very much alive after the regular season. He has developed as much as -- if not more than -- any receiver in the sport, and he's taking advantage of playing opposite Jeremiah Smith.
Tate's frame is a sticking point in his profile. He is optimized to make plays on the ball, creating splash plays downfield and turning himself into an incredibly quarterback-friendly target. It's a tough way to live, but Tate's growth as a route runner has added a dimension to his game.
5. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Styles may have been leapfrogged by his partner in crime, but that's not an indictment of the former safety. Styles has elevated his game in 2025, finalizing his transition to off-ball linebacker and growing into the instincts that come with experience. After a dangerously high missed tackle rate in 2024, he has yet to miss one this season!
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Styles is surprisingly strong against the run and has the requisite tools in coverage to elicit serious upside. Positional value may dampen his stock, but there's a world in which a strong pre-draft circuit thrusts him into the top 15, if not higher.
6. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
We've seen this story before, titled "Tyleik Williams." McDonald has "top-40 pick" written all over him, and with Super Bowl contenders looking to improve their run defense, a late-first-round selection feels like the most likely outcome.
McDonald isn't going to put up big sack numbers at the next level. But his ability to play with proper leverage and technique makes him a rather dominant force against the run. A plug-and-play starter at nose tackle with some versatility along the interior, McDonald can fortify the spine of a defense and make a consistent early-down impact.
7. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Sarratt has solidified himself as a potential Day 2 option, benefiting from Indiana's massive improvement under center. His physical presence consistently wins against press coverage, and his ability to win above the rim makes him dangerous in the red zone and, occasionally, downfield.
Sarratt comfortably navigates zone coverages, has strong hands, and can block well. That lends itself to early playing time, even if burst and man-beating separation isn't a big part of his game. After leading the conference in touchdowns (11) and showing out against elite competition, he figures to earn high-leverage targets on Saturday.
8. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
The better half of a divisive cornerback duo, Igbinosun is another top-100 talent on an elite Buckeyes defense. There's some projection left in his game, but with a 6'2" frame and sub-4.50 speed, some team is bound to fall in love on Day 2.
Igbinosun has three interceptions and 17 passes defended over the last two seasons. He has improved year-over-year, including three seasons as a major contributor in Columbus and a 500-snap season at Mississippi. Indiana has two Sunday players on the perimeter, setting the stage for another prove-it game.
9. Austin Siereveld, OT, Ohio State
Siereveld, perhaps more than any other Buckeye, has the opportunity to strike the iron while it's hot and declare for the NFL Draft. He struggled last season but has blossomed at a new position in 2025, redirecting his NFL trajectory and putting him on the Day 2 radar.
With versatility to both guard spots, Siereveld has held firm while blocking the blindside of a young quarterback. He has yet to allow a sack, and while there have been some bumps in the road against high-pedigree competition (Penn State and Texas), his ascension has become difficult to deny.
Even so, potential arm length limitations that initially had him on the interior could rear their head during the pre-draft circuit, and adding credibility to his profile with another strong season could be worthwhile.
10. Carter Smith, OT, Indiana
If the rising tide of Mendoza's Heisman campaign lifts all boats, Smith could sail into Day 2. His up-and-down college career has ended with style -- he hasn't allowed a sack, and he put his best foot forward against Oregon and Penn State.
The Ohio State defensive line offers another tall task, but Smith seems to have put it all together at the right time. Late-career breakouts can be a bit of a yellow flag, but NFL-ready pass protectors are often a risk teams are willing to take. Containing Reese and keeping Mendoza upright would go a long way in solidifying his case as a true Sunday starter.
Honorable mentions
- Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
- Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
- D'Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
- Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
- Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State
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