Indiana Hoosiers Football vs Ohio State Buckeyes Football Match Player Stats: Full Breakdown From the Big Ten Championship

Indiana Hoosiers Football vs Ohio State Buckeyes Football Match Player Stats: Indiana Wins 13-10 in a Defensive Classic


The latest Indiana Hoosiers football vs Ohio State Buckeyes football match player stats tell the story of one of the most dramatic Big Ten Championship games in recent memory. Indiana defeated Ohio State 13-10 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, ending the Buckeyes’ perfect season and giving the Hoosiers a historic conference title.
This was not a high-scoring shootout. It was a defensive, field-position-driven game where every mistake mattered. Indiana won because Fernando Mendoza made the biggest throw of the night, Elijah Sarratt finished the decisive touchdown drive, Charlie Becker delivered the most productive receiving performance of the game, and the Hoosiers’ defense pressured Julian Sayin throughout the second half.


Ohio State had more passing yards, more possession time and a standout receiving performance from Jeremiah Smith, but the Buckeyes could not convert enough red-zone chances. Indiana’s defense held Ohio State scoreless after halftime and forced the game into exactly the kind of low-scoring battle that suited the Hoosiers.
For users searching “Indiana Hoosiers football vs Ohio State Buckeyes football match player stats,” “Indiana vs Ohio State player stats,” “Ohio State vs Indiana box score,” or “Indiana Ohio State Big Ten Championship stats,” this article gives a full breakdown of passing, rushing, receiving, defense, scoring plays and key takeaways.


Quick Match Summary


Final score: Indiana Hoosiers 13, Ohio State Buckeyes 10
Competition: Big Ten Championship Game
Date: December 6, 2025
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Indiana record after game: 13-0
Ohio State record after game: 12-1
Indiana passing leader: Fernando Mendoza, 15 completions on 23 attempts, 222 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Ohio State passing leader: Julian Sayin, 21 completions on 29 attempts, 258 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Indiana rushing leader: Kaelon Black, 16 carries, 69 yards
Ohio State rushing leader: Bo Jackson, 17 carries, 83 yards
Indiana receiving leader: Charlie Becker, 6 catches, 126 yards
Ohio State receiving leader: Jeremiah Smith, 8 catches, 144 yards
Decisive touchdown: Elijah Sarratt 17-yard touchdown catch from Fernando Mendoza
Official player stats source: Ohio State official box score
Official recap source: Big Ten/AP game recap


Indiana vs Ohio State Final Score by Quarter


First quarter: Indiana 3, Ohio State 7
Second quarter: Indiana 3, Ohio State 3
Third quarter: Indiana 7, Ohio State 0
Fourth quarter: Indiana 0, Ohio State 0
Final score: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10
Ohio State started faster on the scoreboard, taking a 10-6 lead into halftime. But Indiana changed the game in the third quarter with the only touchdown of the second half. After that, the Hoosiers’ defense controlled the finish.
The fourth quarter had no scoring, which made every defensive stop and every field-position decision more important. Ohio State had chances late, but Indiana protected the lead and closed the game.


Indiana Hoosiers Passing Stats


Quarterback: Fernando Mendoza
Completions: 15
Attempts: 23
Passing yards: 222
Passing touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Longest completion: 51 yards
Sacks taken: 3
Fernando Mendoza did not post a massive passing volume, but he played the most important quarterback role in the game. His 222 passing yards gave Indiana enough explosive offense to survive a defensive matchup, and his 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt became the winning score.
The key number is not just 222 yards. It is 9.7 yards per attempt. Mendoza generated more vertical efficiency than Ohio State despite throwing fewer passes. That mattered because Indiana did not need to dominate possession. It needed chunk plays and enough accuracy to finish drives.
Mendoza’s interception prevented a cleaner stat line, but his overall performance was strong enough to win MVP-level attention. In a game where points were rare, his best throws carried more value.


Ohio State Buckeyes Passing Stats


Quarterback: Julian Sayin
Completions: 21
Attempts: 29
Passing yards: 258
Passing touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Longest completion: 52 yards
Sacks taken: 5
Julian Sayin had more passing yards than Mendoza, but the game was not decided by raw yardage. Sayin threw for 258 yards and completed 21 of 29 passes, which looks efficient on the surface. But Indiana’s defense made the most important downs difficult.


The biggest issue was pressure. Sayin was sacked five times, and those negative plays damaged Ohio State’s rhythm. The Buckeyes had explosive receiving production from Jeremiah Smith, but they struggled to turn yards into points after halftime.
Sayin’s touchdown pass to Carnell Tate gave Ohio State a first-quarter lead, but the Buckeyes never found another touchdown. That is the central problem in the player stats: Ohio State moved the ball, but Indiana won the scoring moments.


Quarterback Comparison


Fernando Mendoza: 15-of-23, 222 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Julian Sayin: 21-of-29, 258 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Passing efficiency edge: Indiana had the better yards-per-attempt figure
Volume edge: Ohio State threw more completions and gained more passing yards
Pressure edge: Indiana’s defense sacked Sayin five times
Big-play edge: Both teams had long completions over 50 yards
Game-winning moment: Mendoza’s 17-yard touchdown to Elijah Sarratt
Sayin had the larger passing total, but Mendoza had the game-defining drive. That is why the quarterback comparison is closer than the yardage suggests.
Ohio State’s passing game was productive between the 20s. Indiana’s passing game was more timely. In a 13-10 result, timing mattered more than volume.


Indiana Hoosiers Rushing Stats


Kaelon Black: 16 carries, 69 yards, 4.3 yards per carry
Roman Hemby: 13 carries, 52 yards, 4.0 yards per carry
Fernando Mendoza: 5 carries, -3 net yards
Team total: 34 carries, 118 rushing yards
Rushing touchdowns: 0
Average per rush: 3.5 yards
Indiana’s rushing stats were not explosive, but they were functional. Kaelon Black led the Hoosiers with 69 yards, while Roman Hemby added 52. Together, they gave Indiana 121 combined rushing yards before quarterback sack yardage reduced the team total.
That balance was important. Indiana did not need the run game to dominate. It needed enough rushing efficiency to keep Ohio State’s defense honest, control tempo and create manageable downs.
Black’s 37-yard long run was one of the most important rushing plays of the night. It helped Indiana avoid becoming one-dimensional and gave the Hoosiers a physical element against an elite Ohio State defense.


Ohio State Buckeyes Rushing Stats


Bo Jackson: 17 carries, 83 yards, 4.9 yards per carry
Isaiah West: 3 carries, 4 yards
Julian Sayin: 6 carries, -29 net yards
Team total: 26 carries, 58 rushing yards
Rushing touchdowns: 0
Average per rush: 2.2 yards
Bo Jackson was productive when given the ball, rushing for 83 yards on 17 carries. His 4.9 yards per carry was one of Ohio State’s best offensive numbers.
But the team rushing total tells a different story. Because Sayin lost 29 yards on sacks, Ohio State finished with only 58 net rushing yards. That number shows how much Indiana’s pass rush changed the game.
Ohio State did not lose because Jackson was ineffective. The Buckeyes lost because the run game did not consistently finish drives, and the negative plays in the passing game erased too much field position.


Rushing Comparison


Indiana rushing total: 118 yards
Ohio State rushing total: 58 yards
Indiana leading rusher: Kaelon Black, 69 yards
Ohio State leading rusher: Bo Jackson, 83 yards
Most efficient main rusher: Bo Jackson, 4.9 yards per carry
Biggest difference: Indiana avoided the same level of sack damage that Ohio State absorbed
Ohio State had the best individual running back performance, but Indiana had the better team rushing profile. The Hoosiers were more balanced and avoided the same level of negative-yardage damage.
That was one of the hidden keys of the game. In a low-scoring championship matchup, losing yards on sacks can be as damaging as turnovers.


Indiana Hoosiers Receiving Stats


Charlie Becker: 6 catches, 126 yards, 0 touchdowns, long of 51
Elijah Sarratt: 3 catches, 37 yards, 1 touchdown, long of 17
Jonathan Brady: 2 catches, 20 yards
Riley Nowakowski: 2 catches, 20 yards
E.J. Williams Jr.: 1 catch, 12 yards
Roman Hemby: 1 catch, 7 yards
Team total: 15 catches, 222 yards, 1 touchdown
Charlie Becker was Indiana’s top receiving performer. His 126 yards were the most by any Indiana player and second-most in the game behind Jeremiah Smith. Becker’s ability to generate explosive gains gave Indiana a vertical outlet and changed how Ohio State had to defend.
Elijah Sarratt had fewer yards, but his touchdown was the biggest offensive play of the game. His 17-yard score in the third quarter turned a 10-6 deficit into a 13-10 Indiana lead.
This is the difference between production and impact. Becker had the best Indiana receiving stat line. Sarratt had the most important Indiana receiving moment.


Ohio State Buckeyes Receiving Stats


Jeremiah Smith: 8 catches, 144 yards, 0 touchdowns, long of 52
Carnell Tate: 4 catches, 45 yards, 1 touchdown, long of 20
Max Klare: 2 catches, 28 yards
Will Kacmarek: 3 catches, 20 yards
Bo Jackson: 2 catches, 13 yards
CJ Donaldson: 2 catches, 9 yards
Brandon Inniss: 1 catch, 5 yards
Team total: 22 catches, 264 yards, 1 touchdown
Jeremiah Smith was the most productive skill player in the game. His 8 catches for 144 yards gave Ohio State its biggest offensive weapon and repeatedly challenged Indiana’s secondary.
Carnell Tate scored Ohio State’s only touchdown on a 9-yard pass from Julian Sayin. Tate’s stat line was not as explosive as Smith’s, but his touchdown gave the Buckeyes their first lead.
The problem for Ohio State was that the receiving production did not translate into enough points. Smith had the game’s biggest receiving total, but Indiana kept Ohio State out of the end zone after the first quarter.


Receiving Comparison
Top Indiana receiver: Charlie Becker, 6 catches, 126 yards
Top Ohio State receiver: Jeremiah Smith, 8 catches, 144 yards
Indiana touchdown receiver: Elijah Sarratt
Ohio State touchdown receiver: Carnell Tate
Explosive receiving edge: Ohio State had the top individual receiver, but Indiana had the decisive touchdown
Key takeaway: Ohio State won the receiving yardage battle, but Indiana won the situational passing battle
The receiving stats show why this game was so close. Ohio State had the most productive receiver and more total passing yards. Indiana had fewer catches but turned its biggest second-half drive into the winning score.


Team Stats Breakdown


First downs: Indiana 17, Ohio State 17
Total offense: Indiana 340 yards, Ohio State 322 yards
Rushing yards: Indiana 118, Ohio State 58
Passing yards: Indiana 222, Ohio State 264
Total plays: Indiana 57, Ohio State 56
Yards per play: Indiana 6.0, Ohio State 5.8
Turnovers: Indiana 1, Ohio State 1
Third-down conversions: Indiana 6-of-13, Ohio State 4-of-12
Fourth-down conversions: Indiana 1-of-1, Ohio State 0-of-1
Red-zone scoring: Indiana 3-of-4, Ohio State 2-of-4
Sacks: Indiana defense 5, Ohio State defense 3
Time of possession: Indiana 29:47, Ohio State 30:13
The team stats were extremely close, which fits the 13-10 score. Both teams had 17 first downs. Both teams turned it over once. Total plays were nearly identical.
The difference came in three areas:
Indiana had more rushing balance.
Indiana converted better on third and fourth down.
Indiana’s defense created more sack yardage and late-game pressure.
Ohio State had enough production to win, but the Buckeyes were not sharp enough in scoring territory. Indiana’s advantage was not overwhelming. It was situational.


Defensive Player Stats: Indiana


Rolijah Hardy: 10 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack
D’Angelo Ponds: 9 total tackles
Isaiah Jones: 7 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks
Louis Moore: 6 total tackles, 1 interception, 12 interception return yards
Amare Ferrell: 5 total tackles
Aiden Fisher: 5 total tackles
Stephen Daley: 3 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hurries
Mario Landino: 1 sack
Indiana’s defensive stats explain the result more than any offensive category. The Hoosiers produced five sacks and held Ohio State to 10 points. Rolijah Hardy led the team in tackles, while Isaiah Jones had two sacks and Louis Moore delivered the interception that helped set the tone early.
The most important defensive number is Ohio State’s second-half scoring total: zero. Indiana shut out the Buckeyes after halftime, and that defensive control made the third-quarter touchdown stand up as the winning score.


Defensive Player Stats: Ohio State


Sonny Styles: 12 total tackles
Caleb Downs: 8 total tackles
Caden Curry: 7 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry
Jaylen McClain: 6 total tackles
Kayden McDonald: 5 total tackles
Davison Igbinosun: 4 total tackles, 1 interception
Kenyatta Jackson Jr.: 3 total tackles, 1 sack
Ohio State’s defense played well enough to win many games. Caden Curry was especially disruptive, finishing with three tackles for loss and two sacks. Sonny Styles led all defenders with 12 total tackles, while Caleb Downs added 8.
The Buckeyes held Indiana to only 13 points, which should usually be enough for Ohio State to win. But the offense did not match the defense’s performance.
This is why the game feels unusual from a stats perspective. Ohio State’s defense was strong. Indiana’s defense was stronger in the most important moments.


Kicking and Special Teams Stats


Indiana kicker: Nicolas Radicic
Indiana field goals: 2 made, 3 attempted
Indiana made field goals: 29 yards, 32 yards
Indiana extra points: 1 made, 1 attempted
Ohio State kicker: Jayden Fielding
Ohio State field goals: 1 made, 2 attempted
Ohio State made field goal: 30 yards
Ohio State extra points: 1 made, 1 attempted
Special teams played a major role because points were so hard to find.
Nicolas Radicic made two first-half field goals and the extra point after Sarratt’s touchdown. Those seven kicking points were essential in a game decided by three.
Ohio State made one field goal, but the Buckeyes left points on the field. In a 13-10 game, one missed scoring chance can define the result.


Scoring Summary


First Quarter
Indiana scoring play: Nicolas Radicic 29-yard field goal
Score after play: Indiana 3, Ohio State 0
Why it mattered: Indiana turned early field position into points after Louis Moore’s interception return helped set up the drive.
Ohio State scoring play: Carnell Tate 9-yard touchdown catch from Julian Sayin
Score after play: Ohio State 7, Indiana 3
Why it mattered: Ohio State answered with the game’s first touchdown and appeared to take control late in the first quarter.


Second Quarter
Ohio State scoring play: Jayden Fielding 30-yard field goal
Score after play: Ohio State 10, Indiana 3
Why it mattered: Ohio State extended the lead, but settling for a field goal instead of a touchdown kept Indiana within one score.
Indiana scoring play: Nicolas Radicic 32-yard field goal
Score after play: Ohio State 10, Indiana 6
Why it mattered: Indiana finished a long 14-play drive with points and went into halftime within striking distance.


Third Quarter
Indiana scoring play: Elijah Sarratt 17-yard touchdown catch from Fernando Mendoza
Score after play: Indiana 13, Ohio State 10
Why it mattered: This was the game-winning touchdown. Indiana took the lead and never gave it back.


Fourth Quarter
Scoring plays: None
Why it mattered: Indiana’s defense protected a three-point lead for the entire fourth quarter.


Most Important Player Stats From the Game


Fernando Mendoza: The Winning Quarterback
Fernando Mendoza’s final line was efficient and timely.
Passing: 15-of-23
Yards: 222
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Biggest play: 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt
Mendoza did not need to throw for 350 yards. He needed to make the best throw in the biggest moment. That is exactly what he did.


Charlie Becker: Indiana’s Explosive Receiver
Charlie Becker was Indiana’s most productive offensive player.
Receptions: 6
Receiving yards: 126
Touchdowns: 0
Longest catch: 51 yards
Becker’s yardage helped Indiana stretch the field and create explosive offense in a game where long drives were hard to sustain.


Elijah Sarratt: The Touchdown Maker
Elijah Sarratt’s total numbers were modest, but his impact was huge.
Receptions: 3
Receiving yards: 37
Touchdowns: 1
Longest catch: 17 yards
His touchdown was the decisive offensive play of the game.


Julian Sayin: Productive but Pressured
Julian Sayin had strong passing volume but played under heavy pressure.
Passing: 21-of-29
Yards: 258
Touchdowns: 1
Interceptions: 1
Sacks taken: 5
Sayin’s stat line shows production, but the sacks show why Ohio State struggled to finish drives.


Jeremiah Smith: The Best Individual Receiver
Jeremiah Smith had the biggest receiving performance of the game.
Receptions: 8
Receiving yards: 144
Touchdowns: 0
Longest catch: 52 yards
Smith repeatedly created problems for Indiana’s defense, but the Hoosiers kept him out of the end zone.


Bo Jackson: Ohio State’s Best Runner
Bo Jackson was productive on the ground.
Carries: 17
Rushing yards: 83
Average: 4.9 yards per carry
Touchdowns: 0
Jackson gave Ohio State a real rushing threat, but the team’s total rushing number was reduced by sacks.


Isaiah Jones: Indiana’s Pass-Rush Difference-Maker
Isaiah Jones was one of the biggest defensive factors for Indiana.
Total tackles: 7
Tackles for loss: 2
Sacks: 2
His pressure helped change Ohio State’s offensive rhythm.


Caden Curry: Ohio State’s Defensive Star
Caden Curry was one of Ohio State’s best players.
Total tackles: 7
Tackles for loss: 3
Sacks: 2
Quarterback hurries: 1
Curry helped keep Indiana’s offense from breaking the game open.



What the Player Stats Say About Ohio State


Ohio State’s player stats show a team that had enough talent to win but not enough finishing.
Jeremiah Smith had 144 receiving yards. Bo Jackson rushed for 83 yards. Julian Sayin threw for 258 yards. Caden Curry had a strong defensive performance. Those numbers are not bad.
The problem was conversion.
Ohio State scored only 10 points from 322 yards. The Buckeyes went 4-of-12 on third down and 0-of-1 on fourth down. They also went 2-of-4 in the red zone.
In a championship game, that is the difference between controlling the box score and winning the scoreboard.


What the Player Stats Say About Indiana


Indiana’s player stats show balance, toughness and defensive timing.
Mendoza threw for 222 yards. Black and Hemby combined for 121 rushing yards before sack adjustments. Becker delivered 126 receiving yards. Sarratt caught the decisive touchdown. The defense produced five sacks and one interception.
The most important thing is that Indiana did not need one player to carry the entire game. The Hoosiers won through distribution.
Mendoza made the key throw.
Becker created explosive gains.
Sarratt finished the touchdown drive.
Black and Hemby kept the offense balanced.
Hardy, Jones, Moore and Daley powered the defensive effort.
That is why Indiana’s stats look like a championship team’s stats: not overwhelming, but complete.


Indiana vs Ohio State 2025 Match Player Stats: Final Takeaways


Indiana won the scoreboard: 13-10
Ohio State won the passing yardage battle: 264 to 222
Indiana won the rushing yardage battle: 118 to 58
Indiana won the total offense battle: 340 to 322
Both teams had 17 first downs
Both teams committed one turnover
Indiana had more sacks: 5 to 3
Indiana was better on third down: 6-of-13 vs 4-of-12
Indiana scored the only second-half points
Elijah Sarratt’s touchdown was the game winner
The player stats show that this was not a lucky result. Indiana earned it by staying balanced, winning key downs and producing the biggest defensive stops of the game.
Ohio State had stars and production, especially from Jeremiah Smith and Bo Jackson, but Indiana had the better championship formula.