(Photo: Big Ten Conference)
Saturday Spotlight- Big Ten Championship
(2) Indiana Hoosiers at (1) Ohio State Buckeyes
Indiana (12–0):
A wise man I know always says one thing when a team is good one year and the next season arrives: prove yourselves and do it again. This team has done that and so much more. They came out of left field a season ago and made the playoffs, but fell short to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Last year, they were a strong team; this season, they are a great team, and more people are finally beginning to take them seriously. It was Curt Cignetti’s second season as their head coach, and he got the best out of his team, which is all you can ask for. The biggest difference this year is Fernando Mendoza at quarterback. The offense is significantly better with him under center than it was with Kurtis Rourke, and look at where they are now: undefeated and ranked second in the current College Football Playoff bracket. Fernando is also the favorite to win the Heisman. What sold me even more on the Hoosiers was their win over the Oregon Ducks in October. We all know how difficult a place Autzen Stadium can be for an opponent, but they handled business and delivered what I’ve been calling the best win by any team in the country this season. This is a high-powered offense with explosiveness and balance, and the defense plays a suffocating yet physical brand of football. Tonight, they make their Big Ten Championship Game debut against the defending national champions.
Ohio State (12–0):
It didn’t look great early last week against Michigan. I sensed some nerves in the opening quarter, but once they settled in, they had it. They finally delivered Ryan Day his first career victory over the team up north, and it was the program’s first win over their rivals since 2019, when Urban Meyer was still head coach. Anything you ask of this team, they can do. Create explosive plays downfield through the air? Check. Run the ball and slow the game down? Done. The balanced offense is there, but the backbone of this team has been the defense, which has been the best in the nation. I’ll admit that when they lost Jim Knowles, I thought it would set them back. But when they hired Matt Patricia—whose background with the New England Patriots speaks for itself—his unit in Columbus became an immovable object. If I had to compare this defense to any I’ve seen in all my years covering the sport, it would be the 2021 Georgia Bulldogs. At times, you can move the ball on them and feel like you have a chance, but once they buckle down, they make you one-dimensional and settle in. The only threat to the Ohio State Buckeyes is themselves. If a key player goes down or they don’t play to their standard, the challenge is internal. They return to the Big Ten Championship Game tonight at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indiana X-Factor: Stephen Daley
This is the tone-setter for the Indiana defense. He has combined production and disruption all season at an elite level. Stephen has been one of the best defenders in this front seven—not just for the Hoosiers but possibly in the entire Big Ten. Paired with Mikail Kamara, they’ve formed one of the best defensive tandems nobody talks about. Stephen leads the country in tackles for loss, which shows he’s not just chasing plays—he’s disrupting backfields. Generating pressure can force Sayin into hurried throws.
Ohio State X-Factor: Bo Jackson
When you share a name with a legend, you can’t be a slouch. On an offense with big names like Julian Sayin, Carnell Tate, and Jeremiah Smith, Bo is just as important as any of them and can quietly put up big numbers when he’s fed the football. He’s a physical, downhill runner, and if he gets rolling, Indiana will be forced to drop more defenders into the box. While Julian and the receivers may get the headlines, Bo provides balance and can control the pace—which keeps Indiana’s offense off the field. He can also throw off the Hoosiers’ defensive scheme and make the Buckeyes unpredictable.
Final Thoughts:
We’ve been waiting for this, and tonight is finally the night. It’s the Big Ten Championship Game: the first- and second-ranked teams in the College Football Playoff bracket, two top-five head coaches in Curt Cignetti and Ryan Day, and two of the best quarterbacks in America in Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin. What more could we ask for? When these two met last year at the Shoe in Columbus, Ohio State handed Indiana its first regular-season loss. This time, far more is on the line. Indiana’s offense averages 44 points per game, and Ohio State’s defense allows just 7.8—classic strength vs. strength. The first thing I’m watching with Indiana is whether their offense can capitalize in the red zone. I said the same thing last week about Michigan: every time the Wolverines reached the red zone, they settled for field goals. I’ll say it again—you will not beat this team kicking field goals. Six points has to be the goal. Indiana must mix run and pass to avoid becoming one-dimensional, get into a rhythm, convert third downs, and sustain drives. Each time I’ve watched Julian Sayin, I’ve mentioned that I’ve yet to see him on the turf. Indiana must disrupt this Ohio State offense and pressure Sayin early and often. For Ohio State, the key is simple: play the football that got you here. Why move away from what works? The balanced offense and brick-wall defense are the identity. Their defense clogs running lanes, disrupts rhythm, and limits explosive plays. Offensively, they don’t need 40 points—just efficiency. Move the ball methodically, convert third downs, manage the clock and field position, and keep Indiana’s offense sidelined. And finally: win the line of scrimmage, something they’ve done all season on both sides of the ball. We should be in for cinema tonight.
