Indiana football just flipped the sport on its head. The Hoosiers, ranked No. 2, outlasted No. 1 Ohio State 13 to 10 in the Big Ten Championship on Saturday night. They finished 13 and 0, claimed their first outright Big Ten title since 1967, and now look like the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. For a program once defined by close calls, this felt like a door kicking open.
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A Night Indiana Will Never Forget
Lucas Oil Stadium felt tense for four quarters. The game swung on small things. Indiana’s defense kept squeezing. Ohio State’s kicker pushed a 27 yard field goal wide in the final minutes. Then quarterback Fernando Mendoza made the throw of the night, a deep third down strike that set up the winning points. It was gritty, not pretty, and it was the exact kind of game Indiana never used to win.
The Hoosiers did not blink. They tackled in space. They won on third and short. They played like a team used to the moment. That is new. That is culture.
Indiana’s win delivered the program’s first Big Ten Championship Game victory and its first outright league title since 1967.
How Curt Cignetti Built a Contender
This surge starts with Curt Cignetti. In only his second season, he built a clear identity. Tough defense. Efficient offense. Zero fear in big spots. Indiana backed that belief with an eight year extension in October. It looks smart today.
Cignetti modernized recruiting and the portal, but he also simplified the plan. He asks his team to play fast, stay on schedule, and own the fourth quarter. He has now stacked late game wins across two seasons. That breeds confidence. It also turns a punchline into a power.
The result is a team that goes 12 and 0 in the regular season, then beats Ohio State on a neutral field. That is not a hot streak. That is a rebuild done right.
Fernando Mendoza’s Heisman Surge
Mendoza has moved from steady starter to star. He passed for about 2,980 yards and 33 touchdowns this season, with more scores on the ground. He delivers on time throws. He extends plays when the pocket leaks. He protects the ball. In the title game, he saved his best for the final drive.
What stands out is poise. The stage got louder, his pulse stayed low. That is what voters notice in December. With the win and those numbers, he is in the Heisman mix now. If Indiana runs the table in the playoff, that conversation only grows.
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Indiana’s pass game works best off balance, quick game early, shot plays late, and a quarterback who limits mistakes.
Defense, Details, and the Winning Edge
Indiana’s defense won this crown. The front seven was relentless. They stacked the run, then attacked third and long. Short yardage stops turned momentum. When Ohio State moved the ball, Indiana tightened in the red zone.
The Crucial Sequence
Late in the fourth quarter, Ohio State drove into easy field goal range. The kick from close distance sailed wide. The stadium gasped. Indiana, calm again, used a clutch third down throw from Mendoza to flip the field. The Hoosiers bled the clock, kicked the go ahead field goal, and finished the job with tackles in bounds.
One miss did not decide the game. Indiana forced pressure kicks by winning early downs and controlling field position.
What It Means for the Playoff
An undefeated Big Ten champion with a top five win and a title game triumph, Indiana has the strongest case for the No. 1 seed. That spot matters. It shapes matchups and rest. It also signals respect, a new reality in Bloomington.
Key takeaways for the weeks ahead:
- Indiana should be the top seed based on resume and record
- Mendoza’s Heisman case is alive heading into awards week
- The defense travels, which suits playoff settings
- Cignetti’s situational edge is a real asset in close games
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why is Indiana football trending right now?
A: The Hoosiers upset No. 1 Ohio State 13 to 10 to win the Big Ten, finish 13 and 0, and likely secure the No. 1 seed.
Q: Is Fernando Mendoza a real Heisman candidate?
A: Yes. With nearly 3,000 passing yards, 33 passing touchdowns, and clutch moments, he has a strong case.
Q: How did Indiana beat Ohio State?
A: With a stingy defense, control on early downs, and a late drive after a missed 27 yard field goal by Ohio State.
Q: What changed under Curt Cignetti?
A: A clear identity, better depth, decisive in game choices, and a culture that wins late.
Q: What comes next for Indiana?
A: The College Football Playoff. If they keep this form, a national title shot is on the table.
Conclusion
Indiana is no longer a feel good story. The Hoosiers are a force. They have a coach with a plan, a quarterback with nerve, and a defense that sets the tone. Saturday was not a fluke. It was the proof. The playoff will test them again, but Indiana has already changed the map of college football. 🏈🔥
