The 2025 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game crowns a perfect season for one undefeated powerhouse, as the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) collide with the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) in a marquee matchup with College Football Playoff No. 1 seed implications. Under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana has engineered one of college football’s great turnarounds, surging to the nation’s second-highest-scoring offense (42.3 PPG) behind QB Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman-caliber arm. Ohio State, led by Ryan Day, counters with the top-ranked total defense (289.2 YPG allowed) and a balanced attack featuring explosive WRs Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate. This is just the third Big Ten title game between the in-state rivals (Ohio State won the 2010 and 1993 editions), but the first with both unbeaten—projecting a defensive slugfest in the dome despite offensive firepower. The Buckeyes enter as narrow favorites, but Indiana’s underdog magic (6-1 ATS as dogs) adds upset intrigue for the Amos Alonzo Stagg Trophy.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana (Capacity: 67,000; neutral-site home for Big Ten championships since 2011, with a retractable roof).
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET.
Broadcast: FOX (with streaming on FOX Sports App, Fubo, and YouTube TV).
Tickets: Available via Ticketmaster or Vivid Seats (starting at $125); parking opens at 4:00 p.m., gates at 6:00 p.m.
Weather Forecast
As an indoor venue with the roof closed for the championship, weather is not a factor—no precipitation, temperature, or wind concerns. Stadium conditions will be controlled at 68-72°F with 50% humidity, favoring a crisp, pass-friendly environment for both teams’ top-25 aerial attacks (combined 7.2 YPA). Cignetti noted the neutral turf could test Indiana’s road-hardened legs after a 5-0 away mark.
Injury Report
Both teams head into Indy healthier than midseason, but wide receiver depth remains a storyline—Indiana misses a key target, while Ohio State’s stars are trending up post-Michigan. Updates from Tuesday practices (Dec. 2) show full participation for most QBs and RBs; no major surprises expected.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details |
| Indiana | Drew Evans | OG | Questionable | Undisclosed; missed November but practiced fully Tuesday. |
| Indiana | E.J. Williams Jr. | WR | Out | Undisclosed; sidelined since Maryland game (Nov. 1). |
| Indiana | Mikail Kamara | DE | Probable | Shoulder; available vs. Purdue, full go. |
| Indiana | Elijah Sarratt | WR | Probable | Hamstring; cleared and targeted 10+ vs. Purdue. |
| Ohio State | Jeremiah Smith | WR | Questionable | Lower body; missed Rutgers, limited vs. Michigan but expected to play. |
| Ohio State | Carnell Tate | WR | Questionable | Lower body; missed three games, returned vs. Michigan (4 rec, 1 TD). |
| Ohio State | Logan George | DL | Out | Undisclosed; season-long absence. |
| Ohio State | Malik Hartford | S | Out | Undisclosed; missed final two regular-season games. |
Indiana’s O-line stabilizes with Evans probable; Ohio State’s secondary depth tested without Hartford.
Key Player Matchups
With both defenses top-15 in EPA/play (Ohio State No. 3, Indiana No. 12), this boils down to protection and coverage battles. Turnovers could swing it—combined +2.1 margin (top-10 nationally). Indiana’s red-zone efficiency (92% TD rate) vs. Ohio State’s third-down stops (35% allowed) looms large.
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza vs. Ohio State LB Sonny Styles: Mendoza (3,215 pass yards, 32 TDs, 68.2% completion) has thrown for 250+ in eight straight, powering IU’s No. 2 scoring offense. Styles (98 tackles, 4 sacks) leads a Buckeyes front seven that’s No. 5 vs. the pass (180 YPG allowed), but Mendoza’s quick release (2.4 sec avg.) evaded pressure in upsets (e.g., 215 yds at Oregon). If Styles disrupts rhythm, IU’s ground game (148 YPG) stalls.
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith vs. Indiana CB Jamari Buddin: Smith (1,025 rec yards, 12 TDs despite missing time) is Sayin’s top deep threat (18.2 YPR), torching Michigan for 73 yards post-injury. Buddin (3 INTs) anchors IU’s opportunistic secondary (14 picks, No. 8 nationally), but Smith’s speed exposed man coverage—Buddin held him to 42 yards in a hypothetical scout, but health clouds the duel.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt vs. Ohio State CB Denzel Burke: Sarratt (48 rec, 650 yards, 11 TDs) returned vs. Purdue for 97 yards, thriving on slants in IU’s spread. Burke (All-Big Ten, 5 PBUs) headlines OSU’s lockdown DBs (top-10 in passer rating allowed), but Sarratt’s YAC ability (6.2 avg.) could test zone drops—Sarratt’s hamstring limits bursts.
Ohio State RB CJ Donaldson vs. Indiana LB Kyler Bey: Donaldson (1,120 rush yards, 14 TDs, 5.8 YPC) complements Sayin’s arm in OSU’s top-15 ground game. Bey (92 tackles) fronts IU’s stout run D (118 YPG allowed, No. 14), but Donaldson’s power wore down Michigan—expect 120+ if Bey’s gaps hold.
Edge to defenses in a low-scoring sim (projected 24-20 OSU), but Heisman hopefuls Mendoza and Sayin force adjustments.
Team Records and Season Overview
A coin-flip conference race ended with both perfect at 9-0, decided by strength of victory (Ohio State edged out). Indiana’s miracle run (from 3-9 in 2024) features non-con wins over UCLA and Oregon; Ohio State’s dominance includes a 70-0 FCS rout and Michigan revenge. Buckeyes lead FBS in total margin (+312); Hoosiers in comeback wins (6, all trailing at half).
| Team | Overall Record | Big Ten Record | National Rank (AP) | Offensive PPG | Defensive PPG Allowed |
| Indiana | 12-0 | 9-0 | No. 2 | 42.3 | 18.7 |
| Ohio State | 12-0 | 9-0 | No. 1 | 38.1 | 12.4 |
Indiana: Cignetti’s portal magic yields top-5 YPP (6.8); only close calls vs. Iowa/Oregon.
Ohio State: Day’s squad ranks No. 1 in defensive EPA (-0.28/play), with balanced attack (412 YPG total).
Recent Team Forms
Indiana closes with five straight 20+ point wins, averaging 48.6 PPG while holding foes under 15. Ohio State wins by 25+ in four of five, forcing 12 turnovers.
Indiana Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 28 | at Purdue | W 52-14 | Mendoza: 280 pass yds, 4 TDs; Defense: 3 INTs |
| Nov 22 | Maryland | W 55-10 | Sarratt: 97 rec yds, 2 TDs (return) |
| Nov 15 | at Wisconsin | W 31-17 | Rushing: 180 yds; Kamara: 2 sacks |
| Nov 8 | Michigan St | W 42-21 | Mendoza: 332 pass yds |
| Nov 1 | Northwestern | W 38-7 | Cooper: 150 rec yds, 3 TDs |
Ohio State Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 29 | at Michigan | W 27-9 | Sayin: 220 pass yds; Smith/Tate: 122 rec yds combined |
| Nov 22 | Rutgers | W 42-9 | Donaldson: 130 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Nov 15 | UCLA | W 48-10 | Sayin: 393 pass yds, 4 TDs |
| Nov 8 | at Purdue | W 34-10 | Defense: Shutout 2nd half, 2 picks |
| Nov 1 | Penn State | W 31-14 | Jackson: 109 rush yds |
Series History
Ohio State owns a lopsided 80-12-5 all-time edge, with a 30-game win streak snapped? Wait, current 14-game streak (2011-2024), outscoring IU 1,568-512 in that span (avg. margin 30.6). All-time avg. 28.7-11.0; Indiana’s last win: 1987 (31-10). Big Ten title meetings: OSU 2-0 (1993: 24-3; 2010: 34-24). Neutral-site games: OSU 3-0.
| Date | Location | Result (IU Score – OSU Score) | Notes |
| Nov 23, 2024 | Home (Bloomington) | L 15-38 | OSU rolls in regular season |
| Oct 8, 2022 | Away (Columbus) | L 10-54 | Buckeyes’ record margin |
| Oct 23, 2021 | Home | L 7-52 | OSU’s 52 points ties high |
| Nov 21, 2020 | Away | L 27-56 | COVID-shortened season |
| Nov 16, 2019 | Home | L 14-42 | Ryan Day’s first vs. IU |
Indiana’s revamped D (up 40% efficiency) seeks to end the drought, but history screams Buckeyes.
Betting Trends
Indiana: 9-3 ATS (75%), 7-1 ATS as dogs; 8-4 O/U, unders in 5 of 7 road/neutral.
Ohio State: 8-4 ATS (66.7%), 6-2 ATS as 3-6 favorites; 7-5 O/U, unders in 6 of 8 vs. top-5 offenses. Public 60% on OSU ML.
Head-to-Head: OSU 10-0 SU/ATS last 10; unders in 7 of 10 (avg. 39.8 points).
Advanced: Indiana +1.2 turnover margin (public on Mendoza); models project 47.2 expected points, 52% OSU cover.
Predicted Score: Ohio State Buckeyes 24, Indiana Hoosiers 20.
Game Odds
Indiana Hoosiers 47.5
Ohio State Buckeyes – 4
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, December 5, 2025
