Ohio State and Indiana meet in a massive rematch of the 2025 Big Ten Championship. With major changes on both sides, new matchups have emerged.

On December 6th, 2025, Ohio State last played the Hoosiers in what became the genesis of a historic run for Indiana. After defeating the Buckeyes in a 13-10 rock fight, Curt Cignetti’s squad became the first-ever 16-0 national champion in college football history.

Now, both programs are back in the top five and heading toward another massive collision in Bloomington this weekend.

Changes for Buckeyes and Hoosiers

If one thing is certain in modern-day college football, it’s change, and both programs have seen plenty of it. Ohio State lost 11 players to the NFL draft, 5 of which were selected within the first 36 picks. Most notably, the Buckeyes lost three defenders, all selected inside the top 11 (Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs).

Replacing that kind of talent and football IQ has been a process for Matt Patricia’s unit, but over six games the Silver Bullets rank 3rd nationally in opponent yards per game and 6th in points allowed. Key additions like Earl Little Jr., Christian Alliegro, and, lately, Qua Russaw have given the defense the depth it needed. The schemes and names may have changed, but OSU’s defense has remained elite so far.

Indiana had plenty to replace themselves. The Hoosiers had 8 players selected in the 2026 draft, headlined by Heisman Trophy-winning sensation Fernando Mendoza being selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders. Mendoza’s favorite target, Omar Cooper Jr., also went in the first round, selected by the New York Jets. After losing such valuable experience and production, Curt Cignetti set out to portal once again to replenish his roster.

Coach Cignetti found his quarterback in Josh Hoover, who threw for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns in four seasons at TCU. The 5th-year QB fits exactly what Cignetti looks for: an experienced signal-caller he can trust in any situation and who takes care of the football. Even though Hoover threw 24 interceptions in his final two seasons at TCU, he hasn’t thrown one in 2026.

Hoover gained an additional playmaking target with the portal addition of wide receiver Nick Marsh, a four-star from Michigan State. Alongside the acrobatic, sure-handed Charlie Becker, the Hoosier passing attack remains as formidable as ever. This should be another stiff test for the Buckeyes’ secondary, which has been a strong point when healthy.

Indiana’s defense has also been replenished. Along with 5th-year defensive lineman Stephen Daly, the Hoosiers added a slew of portal defenders from programs like Notre Dame, Penn State, and Wisconsin to bolster the unit. Cignetti’s defense currently ranks 8th in the country in opponent points per game.

With success in the portal and one of the country’s most disciplined teams (3rd nationally in penalties per game), the coaching sensation seems to have rebuilt another titan in college football.

The Matchup Game

Even though both teams top the college football playoff conversation once again, this Saturday’s matchup should look different than last December. Indiana’s defense has been effective at keeping teams out of the end zone, ranking top 10 nationally in opponent points per game. However, its pass defense ranks No. 64 nationally in opponent passing yards per game.

Ohio State’s passing game ranks 2nd nationally in pass yards per game, averaging nearly 340 yards per contest. This matchup stands out as Ohio State’s biggest advantage, especially after the way Nebraska moved the ball against the Hoosiers this past weekend.

One important caveat is that Nebraska did so partly because of the mobility of Husker QB Anthony Colandrea. Julian Sayin and the coaching staff placed a heavy emphasis on pocket awareness and mobility during the offseason. As a result, Sayin has been more mobile this season, rushing for 68 yards and scoring two rushing touchdowns through six games. Most importantly, Julian is much better at escaping the pocket and extending plays, something that was largely absent last season.

Conversely, Ohio State has developed a pattern of poor discipline on the field. The Buckeyes are currently No. 68 nationally in penalties per game (6.7) and committed 8 penalties against Maryland. If Indiana capitalizes on these mistakes, OSU could find itself in trouble.

In summary, if Ohio State wants to exact revenge on the Hoosiers, it’s going to come down to three things: Protecting Sayin (particularly running backs in blitz protection), extending plays in the passing game, and staying disciplined as a team for four quarters. As much talent as there is on the field, the chess match will be well worth watching. It’s time for this team and coaching staff to dig down deep.