Ohio State travels to Bloomington against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in a rematch of the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game.

Ohio State faces off against the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in a rematch of the 2025 Big Ten Championship game. Here’s a preview of Indiana’s team and the key matchups to watch:

Opponent Profile

Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers enter Saturday’s matchup on a 22-game winning streak. The streak is the third longest in the Big Ten since 2000, and a win this weekend would tie Indiana with the 2014-15 Buckeyes. Fresh off the first 16-0 season in college football history, the Hoosiers have ridden a wave of momentum to stay unbeaten this year despite a plethora of change.

Indiana lost eight players to the NFL draft and returned only eight starters this year, a problem OSU is pretty familiar with. With Fernando Mendoza selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, Coach Cignetti found his quarterback in Josh Hoover, who threw for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns in four seasons at TCU.

In his two full seasons as a starter, Hoover threw 24 interceptions. So far in 2026, he’s thrown 17 touchdowns to zero interceptions through six games. Cignetti has worked his magic yet again and tailored his offense to an uber-experienced quarterback.

With the sure-handed Charlie Becker and the addition of receiver Nick Marsh, a four-star from Michigan State, Hoover has leaned on his weapons. Indiana’s pass offense currently ranks 3rd in the nation in team passer rating (190.9). Ohio State also leads the nation at 196.8. Both secondaries face a stiff challenge.

On the defensive side, Indiana’s defensive line is arguably the best in the Big Ten. Defensive linemen Stephen Daly and Toby Osunsamni are tied for the conference lead with 5.0 sacks each. Behind the line, however, the story has been different.

The pass defense currently ranks 64th in the country in opponent yards per game. This pass defense was a big factor in giving Nebraska the lead and keeping them in the game in Lincoln this past weekend. Even though the Hoosiers escaped with a win, OSU’s high-octane passing game should pose a greater threat in Bloomington.

Major Test for the O-Line

As mentioned earlier, Indiana’s pass rush is among the best in the country. However, the ability to stop the run for the Hoosiers isn’t any less impressive as they sit at No. 7 nationally in run defense, allowing just 87.4 yards per game. Even though Ohio State’s run game has improved significantly in Big Ten play, the explosive runs have still been absent, with double-digit yard runs coming at a premium.

The versatile standout Austin Siereveld was ruled out with an illness, so the expectation is that Phill Daniels will return for the Buckeyes. In this case, Gabe Van Sickle would fill the right guard spot for OSU, making the right side of the line a bit of a question mark due to inexperience and injury. Both Daniels and Van Sickle have served their roles well enough, but they’ve also shown suspect play against lesser opponents like Ball State, where OSU mustered just 44 yards at 3.1 yards per carry in the first half.

The line as a whole is just above average by Pro Football Focus standards, and that shows in the run game, which ranks 55th in the country in yards per game (165.7). Ryan Day insists the team isn’t worried about last season’s loss to the Hoosiers and that “the focus has to be on right now.”

That said, this offensive line was heavily exposed in that game last December, and it is only natural for human nature to take over when it comes to wanting to redeem themselves. Beyond a dependable run game, if Ohio State wants to exploit the outside matchups, this line has to play at a high level against a talented, disguising Indiana defense to keep Julian Sayin upright.

Dual-Threat Julian Sayin?

Largely because of the last matchup against the Hoosiers, Julian Sayin was challenged by the coaching staff to add another dimension to his game through his legs. So far, he’s made quantifiable strides, with 86 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on the ground this year (sacks adjusted).

Whether it’s been keeping the offense ahead of the chains or pricking up a first down to extend the drive, the impact has been significant and keeps the Buckeyes’ offense on the field. Sayin also recognizes the value of avoiding the yardage losses they suffered the last time these two teams met, saying, “I think it’s avoiding sacks but then also knowing when that clock is going off to be able to get the ball out of my hands.” Keeping this offense on schedule is certainly top of his mind.

This weekend will likely be his toughest challenge yet in mobility inside and outside the pocket. Indiana has elite pass rushers, but stunts, twists, and disguises add another layer for Julian to anticipate and read. “Indiana does a really good job post-snap of changing up looks… so, we’ll have to trust our eyes and trust our feet.” Coach Day said this about the Hoosier defense during his Wednesday media availability.

Curt Cignetti’s right-hand man and defensive coordinator, Bryant Haines, has become known for his unique looks on defense. Julian has made the strides needed thus far in 2026, but this will be a test he hasn’t quite faced yet. How he responds will be a key factor in how OSU profiles against college football’s elite moving forward.

Sayin, along with his teammates, has a chance to wash away the bad taste of last December’s disappointing loss. Although revenge will certainly motivate this team, the focus has to be on the here and now because the magnitude of this matchup can’t be underestimated. Both teams are emerging as clear frontrunners in the Big Ten after six weeks. A victory this weekend puts the winner in the driver’s seat for a conference championship and a playoff bye.

Prediction: Ohio State 28, Indiana 24

Game Details

No. 4 OSU 5-1 (3-0) vs No. 5 Indiana 6-0 (3-0)

Spread-total: OSU -3.5 – O/U 50.5

Noon ET on FOX

Passing Leaders

Julian Sayin: 116/163 for 1,772 yards, 17 TD and 2 INT

Josh Hoover: 88/128 for 1,364 yards and 17 TD

Rushing Leaders

Bo Jackson: 89 carries for 460 yards and 4 TD

Turbo Richard: 71 carries for 597 yards and 5 TD

Receiving Leaders

Jeremiah Smith: 48 receptions for 916 yards and 11 TD

Charlie Becker: 30 receptions for 529 yards and 8 TD