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On October 17, Ohio State will take on defending national champion Indiana in a highly anticipated Big Ten clash. This marks their first encounter since the Buckeyes fell to the Hoosiers in the 2025 Big Ten Championship game.
Last season, Indiana edged Ohio State 13-10 on December 6, securing the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes dropped to the No. 2 seed and were eliminated by Miami in a CFP quarterfinal. Meanwhile, Indiana faced Miami in the national championship game and emerged with a 27-21 victory, finishing a perfect 16-0 season and claiming the first national title in Hoosiers football history.
This season, the Hoosiers have started 6-0 after a 20-17 win over Nebraska on October 10. Ohio State sits at 5-1 following a 45-16 victory over Maryland.
Season Comparison
The Buckeyes have met expectations aside from a Week 2 loss to Texas. After squandering a 17-point lead against the Longhorns, Ohio State has dominated its Big Ten opponents, winning by at least 14 points against Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland.
Indiana enters the matchup undefeated. After quarterback Fernando Mendoza was selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti dipped into the transfer portal to land TCU transfer Josh Hoover. In six games, Hoover has thrown for 1,364 yards and 17 touchdowns without an interception.
The Hoosiers had close calls against unranked Northwestern and Nebraska. Northwestern pulled within one score late in the fourth quarter, but Indiana sealed the game by converting a third down in the final minute. After limiting Northwestern to 51 yards in the first half, Indiana's defense allowed 325 total yards, including 293 through the air. Against Nebraska, the Hoosiers trailed for most of the game. Down 17-13 in the fourth quarter on fourth down, Nebraska's defense blew coverage on a play-action pass, allowing wide receiver Nick Marsh to score a 44-yard go-ahead touchdown.
Quarterback Comparison: Julian Sayin vs. Josh Hoover
Passing yards: Sayin 1,772, Hoover 1,364. Passing TDs: Hoover 17, Sayin 17. Interceptions: Hoover 0, Sayin 2. Total touchdowns: Hoover 18, Sayin 19. Rushing touchdowns: Sayin 2, Hoover 1.
Offensive X-Factor
Ohio State: WR Jeremiah Smith. Smith leads the Big Ten in receiving yards, receptions, and touchdowns. He became the second Big Ten receiver ever to record back-to-back 200-receiving-yard games, achieving the feat against Iowa and Illinois. Additionally, 53% of Sayin's passing yards this season have gone to Smith. Indiana recently allowed 391 yards of offense to Nebraska.
Indiana: WR Nick Marsh. Although Indiana's Charlie Becker played well against Ohio State in the Big Ten championship, wide receiver Nick Marsh is coming off a clutch performance. Against Nebraska, he had six catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score. A transfer from Michigan State, Marsh could be a first-round pick in next year's NFL draft.
Team Stats (FBS through Week 6)
Points per game: Indiana 40.2 (14th), Ohio State 42.7 (7th). Points allowed per game: Indiana 11.8 (5th), Ohio State 13.2 (8th). Total offense per game: Ohio State 503.5 yards (8th), Indiana 462.7 yards (20th). Passing offense per game: Ohio State 337.8 yards (4th), Indiana 241.3 yards (60th). Rushing offense per game: Indiana 221.3 yards (19th), Ohio State 165.7 yards (60th). Yards per play: Indiana 7.82 (3rd), Ohio State 7.33 (6th). Third-down conversion rate: Indiana 45.3% (12th), Ohio State 45.2% (10th). Fourth-down conversion rate: Ohio State 71.4%, Indiana 66.7%. Total defense: Ohio State 246.8 yards allowed per game (5th), Indiana 263.5 yards allowed per game (12th).
Game Details
Ohio State and Indiana will play at noon ET on October 17. The game will air on Fox and can be streamed on Fox One and Fubo. The matchup will kick off after Fox's 'Big Noon Kickoff' at noon. Streaming options include Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State, Indiana to face off in Big Ten showdown. How they compare.
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