Indiana secures No. 1 College Football Playoff seed with historic win over Ohio State in Big Ten title game

No. 2 Indiana (13-0): For the first time in program history, the Hoosiers have college football's No. 1 team and will be making their first playoff appearance as the No. 1 seed after a seismic victory in Indianapolis. Ohio State's defense garnered much of the season-long buzz, but it was Indiana's front seven and star-studded secondary that quieted the Buckeyes inside Lucas Oil Stadium. And now? They're going to the Rose Bowl in a couple of weeks for a quarterfinals appearance.

No. 1 Ohio State (12-1): Will the Buckeyes fall to No. 2 in the final rankings or potentially drop behind conference champions and fellow one-loss teams Georgia and Texas Tech? That remains to be seen. What matters for Ryan Day's team is they're locked into an opening-round bye despite the unexpected loss in Indianapolis. Ohio State lost its final game before the playoff last season, then ran the table. Following a similar script this time around would suit Buckeyes fans just fine.

Last season, Indiana put together a tremendous 11-1 regular season, but the Hoosiers had trouble punching up. They lost 38-15 against Ohio State in 2024 and quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for only 68 yards. They trailed big against Penn State and had a ways to go to reach true contention. 

After the heavyweight battle against Ohio State, those concerns are off the table. The Hoosiers have truly arrived and can compete in all phases. The defensive line created five sacks against Ohio State's highly rated line. They managed to generate 121 yards rushing from their running backs. 

Perhaps the hardest thing in college football is going from great to truly elite. Curt Cignetti has done it once again, and it's sensational to watch. 

Headed into the Big Ten Championship, it felt like a ripe opportunity for either Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza or Ohio State signal caller Julian Sayin to "win" the Heisman Trophy. Both, of course, were already top favorites to win the award and had a primetime No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown to make the final case.

The big question, though, was just how efficient and productive either could be against one of the nation's top defenses. Ohio State and Indiana ranked in the top three in several defensive categories for a reason, and it showed Saturday night.

Mendoza was solid in the win, and hit a massive 33-yard pass to Charlie Becker helped ice the game for the Hoosiers. However, 222 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a 13-point output wasn't necessarily a classic Heisman performance. Sayin was constantly under pressure and looked overmatched, throwing an interception and barely clearing 200 yards until a Hail Mary heave. 

You could argue Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, another Heisman frontrunner, saw his chances improve simply by not playing on Saturday.

FINAL: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

No. 2 Indiana stunned No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 to clinch its first outright Big Ten championship since 1945. The win is expected to clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff and earn the Hoosiers a trip to the Rose Bowl. 

On an inconsistent night for the offense, quarterback Fernando Mendoza saved one of his biggest plays for the final moments. Facing third-and-six, Mendoza hit Charlie Becker for a 33-yard pass to extend the game. Indiana was able to run the clock down to within 30 seconds. 

Ohio State's highly-touted offense was inconsistent against a highly-ranked Indiana defense. However, their failure to turn lengthy drives into points proved fatal. The Buckeyes went 12 plays for 70 yards before getting stuffed on 4th-and-1 deep in the red zone. On the next drive, the Buckeyes went 81 yards in 15 plays, but kicker Jayden Fielding missed a chip shot to cost Ohio State a tie. 

The Buckeyes mustered only 276 yards before a final heave to Jeremiah Smith. Indiana's defense was sensational, sacking Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin five times and picking him off. Linebacker Isaiah Jones had two sacks for Ohio State. 

With the loss, Ohio State has failed to capture the Big Ten title since the pandemic season in 2020, despite winning a national title last year. The Buckeyes should still remain in the bye conversation at 12-1, but will be sweating the CFP Committee's decisions on Sunday. 

Fourth quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

This time Ryan Day opts for the easy field goal attempt and...no good. Ohio State has 2:48 to stop Indiana, get the ball back and score or its nation's best winning streak will be over. 

If this score holds, Indiana will not only be your Big Ten champion but will be the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff. 

End of third quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

The Hoosiers are up three and are driving to start the fourth quarter. Ryan Day's bold decision to go for it rather than take the field goal is one reason why the Hoosiers still lead, but the even bigger reason was Fernando Mendoza's terrific throw to Elijah Sarratt for IU's first touchdown of the game.

Mendoza, who took a big hit on the first offensive play of the game, may have had his Heisman moment with that TD throw. He's now up to 12 of 19 for 167 yards, one touchdown and an interception. 

Ohio State Julian Sayin is struggling to be comfortable in the pocket -- he has been sacked five times -- but is still 14 of 19 for 177 yards, one touchdown and an interception. 

Third quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

Ryan Day's bold call to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the 5-yard line, rather than take the easy field goal, just blew up spectacularly. While it looked like Sayin got the first down on a QB sneak, a review showed he was short of the line. Rather than a tie game, Indiana still holds a narrow 3-point lead and the ball backed up at its own 5-yard line. 

Third quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

Hoo boy do we have a game here in Indy. Fernando Mendoza just had the play of the game (so far) on a beautiful throw to Elijah Sarratt who made a terrific catch for a 17-yard touchdown. Indiana had been moving the ball well, only to get stymied in the redzone. This was a big-time throw at a big-time moment for Mendoza to give the Hoosiers the lead.

It is the first second-half deficit the undefeated Buckeyes have experienced all season.

Third quarter: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10

Hoo boy do we have a game here in Indy. Fernando Mendoza just had the play of the game (so far) on a beautiful throw to Elijah Sarratt who made a terrific catch for a 17-yard touchdown. Indiana had been moving the ball well, only to get stymied in the redzone. This was a big-time throw at a big-time moment for Mendoza to give the Hoosiers the lead.

Third quarter: Ohio State 10, Indiana 6

Bryant Haines' Indiana defense is EVERYWHERE tonight and giving OSU QB Julian Sayin and the Buckeyes' offensive line all they can handle. With 11:32 still left in the third quarter, Indiana has already sacked Sayin five times. 

How wild is that? Coming into tonight, Sayin had been sacked a grand total of seven times. The Hoosiers' defense is leaving Sayin little time to do anything except run for his life tonight. 

End of second quarter: Ohio State 10, Indiana 6

Indiana is winning the yardage battle but losing the game overall in a first half where the defense bested offense.

Each team added a field goal in the second quarter and that was it from the scoring department in a quarter that moved briskly. The game could be only a one-point difference but Indiana kicker Nicolas Radicic missed his first field goal of the season, this one from 39 yards out.

After the first half, Indiana out-gained Ohio State, 166-128, and had 10 first downs compared to the Buckeyes' 7. Still, the only touchdown of the game was Julian Sayin's first-quarter 9-yard pass to Carnell Tate.

Sayin leads Mendoza, 109-87, in first half yards passing. 

Second quarter: Ohio State 10, Indiana 6

Indiana's offense continues to build momentum but it is clear it isn't going to be easy for the Hoosiers to get it into the end zone tonight. Another drive, another field goal attempt though this one was successful from 32-yards out. Indiana is actually out-gaining Ohio State though the Buckeyes' offense has been more explosive. 

Second quarter: Ohio State 10, Indiana 3

Ohio State added to its lead on a 30-yard field goal but that drive was more about what could have been. Julian Sayin, who has been so terrific all season, just underthrew Jeremiah Smith a bit and forced him to slow down. It was still a 52-yard gain and led to points on the scoreboard but if Sayin had hit him in stride it would have been a touchdown. It may not mean anything but it's one of those plays that could be make-or-break in a tight game.

Ohio State's offense is starting to settle in, though, and Indiana clearly has its hands full trying to do everything it can to slow down Smith. 

Second quarter: Ohio State 7, Indiana 3

In a game where points might be hard to come by, Indiana squandered a great opportunity to put points on the board early in the second quarter. Nicolas Radicic missed a 39-yard field goal to the left to end what had been a promising offensive drive with zero points. It was Radicic's first missed field goal of the season and came at an unfortunate time for IU.

A 37-yard Kaelon Black run had put the Hoosiers in a good spot before the Buckeyes stood tall. 

End of 1st quarter: Ohio State 7, Indiana 3

It was two turnovers that were the difference in a first quarter largely bereft of scoring and offense.

First came Indiana cornerback Louis Moore intercepting Julian Sayin and returning the ball to Ohio State's 23-yard line. Indiana couldn't do much offensively from there but still came away with a successful 29-yard field goal.

And then, right before the end of the quarter, Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun's interception returned to the Hoosiers' 25-yard line. Following a face mask penalty on Indiana, Ohio State moved into the redzone and Sayin capitalized on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate. 

Outside of those two scores, it was mostly the defenses that won the battle against the two Heisman Trophy front-running quarterbacks. Sayin went 5 of 8 for 46 yards, one touchdown and an interception. The Buckeyes managed all of 13 rushing yards. For Indiana, Mendoza was 3 of 8 for 30 yards and an interception. The Hoosiers were more effective on the ground, powered by a 37-yard run from Kaelon Black. 

First quarter: Ohio State 7, Indiana 3

After a Davison Igbinosun's interception returned to the Hoosiers' 25-yard line, Julian Sayin capitalized on the field position and found Carnell Tate for a 9-yard touchdown to give the Buckeyes the lead. Indiana had two penalties on the drive, including a face mask that moved Ohio State inside the redzone. 

First quarter: Indiana 3, Ohio State 0

After getting great field position following a Louis Moore interception, Indiana gets on the board first with a successful 29-yard field goal. It's slightly disappointing for the Hoosiers that they couldn't do more after getting set up at Ohio State's 23-yard line, but in a battle of the nation's top two defenses, all points will be important. Both offenses are a little slow to get going so far. 

Indiana's defense has a tough test tonight but so far it has been more than up for it. Louis Moore intercepted Julian Sayin on a third down throw to set the Hoosiers up at OSU's 23-yard line. 

First quarter: Ohio State 0, Indiana 0

Indiana got a major scare on its first play of the game when Fernando Mendoza took a huge hit. Mendoza was down for quite some time before eventually being helped off. It looked bad and you could feel the fans inside Lucas Oil Stadium holding their breath. Fernando's brother, Albert, came in for a play before his older brother Fernando came back in to a huge roar from the crowd. 

Mendoza made a couple nice plays -- and just missed on a big throw that could have resulted in a touchdown -- before Indiana ultimately had to punt. Buckeyes will start at their own 12-yard line. 

Indiana star QB Fernando Mendoza took a huge hit on the first play, had to miss a play and then came back after one play. A huge sigh of relief for Indiana fans everywhere that Mendoza wasn't badly hurt. 

The high-powered Indiana offense will start things here in Indianapolis. Ohio State won the toss and deferred to the second half, setting the stage for Fernando Mendoza and Co. to get first swing in the Big Ten Championship. 

College football's championship weekend always delivers plenty of excitement. Over two days, 18 teams will battle for league glory -- and more beyond that.

In the 12-team College Football Playoff era, five spots are automatically reserved for the highest-ranked conference champions. Several of those contenders are also jockeying for a first-round bye as one of the top four seeds.

That adds another layer of importance to an already momentous slate of title games. A lot is on the line for a lot of teams in Week 15.

We here at CBS Sports have been overreacting to every college football weekend for a while now. For a change, let's try to manifest a few things ahead of a packed championship weekend.

Predicting conference championship game overreactions: Notre Dame gets bounced, ACC makes some serious changes

Will Backus

The matchup between No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers in the Big Ten Championship is a fitting snapshot of modern college football.

On one side is defending national champion Ohio State, a program that has long been one of the Big Ten's most dominant forces through all its eras, alignments and memberships. It's the team that's supposed to be here, even if this is its first appearance in six years. And, ironically enough, it wouldn't have been there in 2020 if not for the Big Ten changing its rules during the COVID season and placing the Buckeyes in the game despite not meeting the qualification threshold.

The team it replaced that year? Indiana. The team that wasn't supposed to be there, and is never supposed to be there. In 2020, the Hoosiers rode the wave of a fluky season flipped upside down by a virus that led to cancellations, opt-outs and cardboard cutouts standing in for fans. Now it's 2025, and Indiana is the clearest example that "not supposed to be here" no longer applies in college football -- at least not in the way we've always understood it.

B1G Time: More than just a trophy on the line for Ohio State, Indiana; Pat Fitzgerald set up for success

Tom Fornelli

Two undefeated quarterbacks. Two programs on the brink of history. On Saturday, Ohio State Buckeyes Julian Sayin and Indiana Hoosiers Fernando Mendoza square off in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 Big Ten title game that could reverberate far beyond the conference. 

Both are among the betting favorites to win the Heisman Trophy -- FanDuel Sportsbook lists Mendoza at +160, with Sayin not far behind at +220. The stakes couldn't be much higher, and both quarterbacks are ready to prove why they belong in college football's elite fraternity.

Tale of the Tape: Fernando Mendoza vs. Julian Sayin in Big Ten title game showcase that could decide Heisman

Cody Nagel

The game of the year -- so far at least -- arrives on Saturday night in Indianapolis as undefeated No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and undefeated No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers go toe-to-toe with the Big Ten Championship and the College Football Playoff's No. 1 seed on the line.

There may not be quite the playoff stakes of the Big 12 or SEC championship games as both Ohio State and Indiana are firmly in the projected bracket and currently expected to receive first-round byes. But there is still plenty at stake, including possibly the Heisman Trophy race, as college football's two best teams finally face off this season. 

Ohio State vs. Indiana prediction, pick, odds, spread: No. 1 Buckeyes, No. 2 Hoosiers collide from Indy

John Talty