Big Ten Championship Game 2025 Early Preview, Predictions for Indiana vs. Ohio State

The top two teams in college football square off in Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game.

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers each produced undefeated regular seasons to reach Indianapolis.

The Big Ten title, the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff and potentially the Heisman Trophy will all be on the line in the No. 1-versus-No. 2 showdown.

Big Ten Championship Game Info

Date: Saturday, December 6

Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: Fox

Live Stream: Fox One app or FoxSports.com

Preview

Ohio State and Indiana dominated most of their opponents in 2025.

Few teams have come close to challenging either the Buckeyes or Hoosiers, which is why Saturday's contest is so fascinating. It will provide both programs with a look at how they stack up against a fellow national championship contender.

Indiana possesses the fifth-best offense in the FBS, led by Heisman contender Fernando Mendoza.

Ohio State averages 438.5 total yards per game, has its own Heisman candidate in Julian Sayin and the most talented wide receiver in college football in Jeremiah Smith.

Mendoza and Sayin will be tasked with breaking down the two top scoring defenses in the country.

Both teams have a top-five rushing defense, but Ohio State has the superior passing defense. The Buckeyes give the fewest passing yards per game in the FBS. Indiana allows 51 more yards per contest through the air.

That might be the difference-maker in a game where the margins could be incredibly small.

Sayin, Smith, Carnell Tate and the OSU passing attack might be able to find gaps in the Indiana secondary to provide the necessary cushion for a Buckeyes defense that has not conceded more than 10 points in the last month.

But do not expect a high-scoring affair, like we've seen recently in the Big Ten Championship Game. A winning score in the low 20s will likely be the case in a game where both defenses will flex their strengths.

Ohio State has a deeper passing attack than Indiana, and that might be the difference in an expectedly tight affair.

Prediction: Ohio State 21, Indiana 16