Indiana Athletics
Indiana made history Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium, toppling No. 2 Ohio State 13–10 to win its first outright Big Ten Championship in 80 years and snap multiple long-running droughts in the process.
The Hoosiers (13–0) ended the Buckeyes’ nation-leading 16-game winning streak while extending their own to 13, now the longest active streak in the country. The victory also marked Indiana’s first win over Ohio State since Oct. 8, 1988, halting a 30-game skid in the series.
Indiana received the opening kickoff after Ohio State deferred, and from the start, the Hoosiers’ defense delivered one of the most disruptive performances the Buckeyes have faced all season. Indiana sacked OSU quarterback Julian Sayin five times—nearly matching the six sacks Ohio State had allowed entering the game. The Hoosiers also held the Buckeyes to 58 rushing yards and only 322 total yards, well below OSU’s season average.
Offensive Breakthroughs Fuel Historic Night
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed 15 of 23 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown. His third-quarter strike to Elijah Sarratt, a 17-yard score, put Indiana ahead for good at 13–10. The touchdown pushed Sarratt to 12 receiving scores on the season, moving him to No. 3 on IU’s single-season list, and tied him for No. 3 on the program’s career touchdown chart with 20.
Mendoza’s performance also moved him to No. 6 on Indiana’s single-season passing list with 2,980 yards as he continues to chase the program’s 3,000-yard milestone.
Sophomore wideout Charlie Becker turned in a career night with 126 receiving yards on six catches—his third 100-yard game.
Indiana’s offense exceeded expectations across the board, throwing for more than 100 yards above its season average (121.3) and rushing for 118 yards against a Buckeyes defense that entered allowing just 82.6 per game. The Hoosiers produced 340 total yards—nearly 140 more than Ohio State’s defensive average.
Defensive Stand Sparks Title Run
The Hoosiers’ defense delivered timely pressure and key stops throughout the night. Sophomore linebacker Rolijah Hardy recorded his 10th straight game with at least a half-tackle for loss and finished with 10 tackles. Isaiah Jones posted a career-high 2.0 sacks as part of a five-sack team effort.
Senior defensive back Louis Moore intercepted Sayin in the first quarter, his sixth pick of the season, setting up Indiana’s first points of the night.
Veteran lineman Mikail Kamara appeared in his 50th career game and logged at least one tackle for the 48th time.
Radicic Sets Multiple Records
Kicker Nico Radicic converted two field goals (29 and 32 yards), extending his program-record streak to 16 straight makes. He also pushed his season scoring total to 116 points, moving to No. 4 on Indiana’s single-season scoring chart. His 71 extra points this season further extended his program record.
Historical Significance
Indiana, now 44-27-1 all-time when ranked, secured just its third Big Ten championship (1945, 1967, 2025) and its first outright title in eight decades.
Game captains for the Hoosiers were OL Pat Coogan, LB Aiden Fisher, TE Riley Nowakowski and WR Elijah Sarratt.
With the win, Indiana not only dethroned one of college football’s perennial powers but also positioned itself for the program’s second-ever College Football Playoff berth.
About the Author
Dalton Tinklenberg is the Founder and Media Director of The Scouting Depot, where he leads comprehensive coverage of college and professional football. He is an active member of some of the most respected organizations in sports journalism, including the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA), Maxwell Football Club, Online News Association (ONA), National Football Foundation (NFF), and the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE).
Before launching The Scouting Depot, Dalton worked with Blue HQ Media, where he covered major sporting events such as the Indianapolis 500, the College Football Playoff, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.
Through his professional affiliations and on-the-ground experience, Dalton combines deep knowledge of the game with recognized standards of storytelling, editorial excellence, and authenticity in sports coverage.
