Indiana wins Big 10 championship after Ohio State flubs short field goal
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Indiana held on to win the Big 10 football championship 13-10 on Saturday as Ohio State kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 27-yard field goal in the final minutes. For Indiana, this will be their first outright conference title since 1945 after winning part of the title in 1967.
The Hoosiers were four-point underdogs entering the game against the defending national champions and the top seed in the college football playoff. Now, before the playoffs begin, Indiana has clinched arguably the most successful season of the modern era.
“I want to give all the credit to God. We were never supposed to be in this position, but because of the glory of God, great coaches, great teammates and everyone around us, we were able to do it,” Indiana quarterback Fernandeo Mendoza told Fox Sports after the game.
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Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Rolijah Hardy (21) tries to block Ohio State Buckeyes running back Bo Jackson (25) during the Big Ten football championship on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Mendoza passed for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception to help with the win.
Indiana wide receiver Charlie Becker, who caught six passes for 126 yards, also told Fox Sports after the win, “Thank God.”
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Indiana Hoosiers kicker Nicolas Radicic (15) makes a field goal during the first half of the Big Ten Conference championship game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on December 6, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
“Hoosiers are real and we’re here,” Becker said.
Indiana, now 13-0, will look to win its first national championship in the college football playoff, as a win over Ohio State would guarantee them the No. 1 seed when the tournament begins.
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Indiana Hoosiers running back Roman Hemby (1) runs for the ball during the Big Ten football championship against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (Grace Smith/IndyStar/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Meanwhile, Ohio State is still likely to earn a first-round bye despite the loss.
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