For decades, the ohio st vs indiana football matchup was basically a scheduled "W" for the Buckeyes. It was the game you circled on the calendar if you wanted to see the second-string quarterback get some reps in the fourth quarter. Honestly, the stats were ugly. Heading into the mid-2020s, Ohio State had won 30 straight games against Indiana. Thirty. That’s a generation of fans who had never seen the Hoosiers even sniff a victory.
But things feel different now. Kinda weird, actually.
We used to talk about this game in terms of "how many points will Ohio State win by?" Now, we’re talking about Big Ten Championship implications and Heisman Trophy races. If you haven't been paying attention, Indiana under Curt Cignetti has turned into a legitimate monster. The 2024 season was the warning shot, but the 2025 campaign—culminating in that wild December 13-10 defensive slugfest in Indianapolis—proved that the old hierarchy is dead.
The Day Everything Changed (and the Day it Almost Didn't)
To understand why people are finally taking ohio st vs indiana football seriously, you have to look back at the 2024 meeting in Columbus. Indiana walked into the Horseshoe as an undefeated top-5 team. Most experts still called them pretenders. They’d played a "soft" schedule, people said.
They lost 38-15.
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It was a reality check. Ohio State’s defense, led by Cody Simon and Caleb Downs, basically lived in the backfield. Indiana’s then-quarterback Kurtis Rourke was sacked five times. But even in a blowout, something shifted. Indiana didn't look like they were scared to be there; they just looked like they weren't deep enough yet. Curt Cignetti basically told anyone who would listen that they’d be back.
Fast forward to December 6, 2025. Lucas Oil Stadium.
The rematch wasn't a blowout. It was a 13-10 Indiana win that felt like a 15-round heavyweight fight. No flashy 50-point explosions. Just two elite defenses—Ohio State ranked #1 and Indiana ranked #2—refusing to give up an inch. When Fernando Mendoza hit Charlie Becker for that final 33-yard strike to seal the game, it didn't just win a trophy. It ended the longest active winning streak in the FBS.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Rivalry
Most casual fans think Indiana’s sudden rise is a fluke. It's not. It’s a complete overhaul of how they recruit and how they play.
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Traditionally, Ohio State vs Indiana was a mismatch of athletes. The Buckeyes would have three future NFL receivers on the field at once, and Indiana would try to keep up with grit and "effort." That gap has narrowed. While the Buckeyes still have guys like Jeremiah Smith—who might be the best receiver to ever wear the Scarlet and Gray—Indiana finally has the secondary to challenge them.
In the 2025 title game, D’Angelo Ponds (who actually played with Smith in high school) put on a clinic. He didn't stop Smith—nobody does—but he made every catch a struggle. That’s the difference. You don't have to be better than Ohio State at every position; you just have to be physical enough to make them play 60 minutes of uncomfortable football.
Key Performance Stats: The Shift
- 2010-2023: Ohio State averaged roughly 42 points per game against Indiana.
- 2024: Ohio State held Indiana to just 15 points but still scored 38.
- 2025: Indiana held the high-powered Buckeye offense (led by Julian Sayin) to just 10 points.
It’s the defense. That’s the real story. Indiana stopped trying to out-shoot the Buckeyes and started trying to out-muscle them.
Why the 2026 Outlook is Even Crazier
If you think the drama is over because Indiana finally got their win, you’re wrong. Ohio State doesn't take losing well. Ryan Day has built a program that treats a single loss like a national tragedy. The Buckeyes are already reloading, and the 2026 matchup is likely to be a "revenge game" with massive playoff implications.
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The dynamic has flipped.
Instead of Indiana hoping to keep it close, they are now the hunted. They are the team with the target on their back in the Big Ten. Ohio State is the one having to prove they haven't been "passed" by the program from Bloomington.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re looking at ohio st vs indiana football for future seasons, throw the historical "all-time record" out the window. It’s useless.
- Watch the Trenches: The 2024 and 2025 games were decided by whoever won the line of scrimmage. Indiana’s offensive line was their Achilles heel in '24; it was their strength in '25.
- The "Cig" Factor: Curt Cignetti is 23-2 over his first two seasons at Indiana. He is a master of the transfer portal. Until he leaves, assume Indiana is a top-15 program.
- Jeremiah Smith is the X-Factor: As long as #4 is on the field for Ohio State, they have a "cheat code." No matter how good Indiana’s secondary gets, Smith is the type of player who can score from anywhere.
- Home Field Matters (Sorta): Bloomington is no longer a "neutral site" for Buckeye fans. The crowd noise at Memorial Stadium has become a real factor for visiting teams.
The days of skipping this game on the schedule are over. Whether it's in Columbus, Bloomington, or back in Indy for the title, ohio st vs indiana football is now one of the premier matchups in the country. It’s no longer a blowout; it’s a battle.
Next Steps for Following This Rivalry:
- Track the spring transfer portal moves for both teams, specifically looking for offensive line depth.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 Big Ten schedule release to see if this game falls late in the season, which usually favors the deeper Ohio State roster.
- Monitor the health of Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza, as this matchup is now firmly a duel between two of the nation's best quarterbacks.