History has a funny way of making you wait until you've almost forgotten what disappointment feels like. For thirty-seven years, the outcome of this matchup was essentially a foregone conclusion. If you were looking for the Ohio State and Indiana score, you usually found a blowout, a "brave effort" by the Hoosiers that fell short, or a late-game surge by the Buckeyes to keep a decades-long winning streak alive.
Then came December 6, 2025.
The lights at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis felt a little hotter that night. No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Indiana. It sounds like a typo if you've followed Big Ten football for more than five minutes, but it was the reality. When the clock hit triple zeros, the scoreboard read: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10.
Why This Score Changed Everything
For the first time since 1988, Indiana beat Ohio State. Honestly, most people under the age of forty had never seen it happen. The Buckeyes had won 30 straight games against the Hoosiers. Think about that. Thirty games. Coaches came and went, players grew up and retired, and the streak just kept breathing.
But Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers didn't care about the history books. They went into the Big Ten Championship Game and played a brand of "ugly" football that eventually broke the most talented roster in the country. It wasn't a shootout. It wasn't pretty. It was a 13-10 defensive masterclass that saw Ohio State’s high-flying offense look human for the first time all season.
The Breakdown: How 13-10 Happened
The first half felt like business as usual for Ryan Day's squad. Julian Sayin, the Buckeyes' star freshman quarterback, found Carnell Tate for a 9-yard touchdown in the first quarter to make it 7-3. When Jayden Fielding knocked through a 30-yard field goal in the second, the Buckeyes held a 10-3 lead.
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Most people in the stands thought, "Okay, here it comes. Ohio State is about to pull away."
But they didn't.
Indiana's defense was a brick wall. They sacked Sayin five times. They forced him into a 17-for-34 passing night. That's basically unheard of for a Brian Hartline-coached receiving corps. The turning point was a 17-yard touchdown pass from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza to Elijah Sarratt in the third quarter. That put Indiana up 13-10.
Nobody scored again.
Ohio State had their chances, sure. Fielding, who has been reliable all year, missed a game-tying field goal with 2:48 left on the clock. The ball hooked wide left, and you could almost hear the collective gasp from Columbus.
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Examining the 2024 Matchup vs. 2025
It’s worth looking back at how we got here. Just a year prior, on November 23, 2024, the Ohio State and Indiana score was 38-15 in favor of the Buckeyes.
That 2024 game was the first sign that Indiana was actually getting serious. They were 10-0 heading into the Shoe. But Will Howard and TreVeyon Henderson were too much. Caleb Downs even had a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown that day. It felt like Indiana was a "good" team that just wasn't "elite" yet.
Fast forward twelve months, and the gap had closed.
Key Differences in the 2025 Victory
- Quarterback Play: In 2024, Kurtis Rourke was held to just 68 passing yards. In 2025, Fernando Mendoza threw for 222 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
- The Trenches: Indiana’s defensive line, led by guys like Mikail Kamara and Tyrique Tucker, actually won the battle at the line of scrimmage against Ohio State's veteran offensive line.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Ohio State stalled out twice inside the 20-yard line in the second half of the 2025 game. You can't do that against a top-five defense.
The Fallout for Both Teams
So, what does a 13-10 loss mean for Ohio State? Well, they missed out on the Big Ten title again. That drought is now five years long. But because they were No. 1 and finished 12-1, they still secured a high seed in the College Football Playoff. They’re likely looking at a first-round bye and a path to a national title, but the "invincibility" is gone.
For Indiana, this is the mountain top. They finished the regular season and conference championship 13-0. They secured the No. 1 overall seed in the CFP and earned their first outright Big Ten championship since 1967.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you're following the Ohio State and Indiana score for future matchups or playoff implications, keep these points in mind.
First, the "talent gap" is shrinking due to the transfer portal. Indiana didn't recruit five-star players; they built a roster of veteran four-star transfers who had played four years of college ball. Experience beats raw potential in December games.
Second, watch the Under. When these two high-powered teams meet lately, the defenses are the ones showing up. The 2025 total was set at 45.5, and the game didn't even hit 25 points.
Finally, don't ignore the coaching. Curt Cignetti is now 24-1 over his last two seasons at Indiana. He has figured out a scheme that frustrates Ryan Day’s vertical passing attack. Until Ohio State proves they can handle a physical, grinding defensive front, Indiana is no longer a "trap game"—they’re a legitimate threat.
Track the upcoming College Football Playoff bracket to see if these two are on a collision course for a third meeting in 14 months. If it happens, don't expect a blowout. The days of penciling in a 40-point Ohio State win are officially over.