Indiana now has sole possession of the No. 1 seed heading into the College Football Playoffs and enters it as the only undefeated team after finishing the year 13-0. It now marks the first time in program history that the school has ever been ranked No. 1.
A failed fourth-down conversion that could've been a chip-shot field goal and a 27-yard field goal that missed wide left led to Ohio State's demise in the fourth quarter.
The game was sealed after Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza completed a 33-yard pass to wide receiver Charlie Becker.
Mendoza would finish the game with 222 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception on 15-of-23 passing. But the Big Ten Championship was, above all, an ecstatic defensive battle with clutch stops, big-time sacks, and crucial turnovers.
The game saw a total of eight sacks, 13 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and both teams holding each other to 17 first downs.
Full game recap + highlights
It was a scary start to the game after Mendoza took a nasty hit to his right shoulder. But the QB went back on the field after one play, ultimately leading to the Hoosiers punting on their first drive.
During Ohio State's first drive, quarterback Julian Sayin threw an interception to defensive back Louis Moore - his sixth of the season - as the Hoosiers got the ball right back.
Indiana capitalized on the opportunity thanks to a 29-yard field goal from kicker Nico Radicic to put his team up 3-0.
Ohio State would get their revenge and it started with an interception of their own near the end of the first quarter.
After Mendoza tried to swing a screen pass that got batted up in the air, Ohio State's Davison Igbinosun got the pick on Indiana's 25 yardline, giving the Buckeyes great field position.
Ohio State would take full advantage after Sayin found wide receiver Carnell Tate for a nine-yard touchdown reception to go up 7-3.
It was Tate's ninth touchdown on the season and his second straight game with at least one touchdown after recording one against Michigan last week.
The Junior missed most of November with an undisclosed lower-body injury.
Radicic had another opportunity to put Indiana on the board with another three, but missed - he was a perfect 13-for-13 in field goals heading into the game.
Ohio State would drive down the field for 67 yards on six plays to kick a field goal of their own.
Kicker Jayden Fielding would hit his first of the game to give the Buckeyes a 10-3 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.
It would be a battle of field goals as Indiana responded with another after Radicic drilled a 32-yarder to make it 10-6 with 2:47 left in the first half.
Indiana finished the first half with 166 total yards (79 rushing) and 10 first downs compared to Ohio State's 128 total yards (19 rushing) and seven touchdowns.
2nd half
After forcing Ohio State to punt in their first drive of the half, the Hoosiers finally found paydirt for the first time in the game.
Mendoza completed a deep 51-yard fade route to Becker, who made the incredible contested catch to put them deep into Ohio State territory.
A few plays later, Mendoza threw a perfect back-shoulder throw to wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, who made a contested catch for a 17-yard touchdown to put Indiana up 13-10.
It was Sarratt's 12th touchdown of the season, sitting just one short of tying a personal career-high that he set back in his time at James Madison.
It was the first time that Ohio State had trailed in the second half all season.
Ohio State went 70 yards on 12 plays on the following drive, but went for it on fourth and short and couldn't get it after trying a QB sneak with Saying.
Rather than taking the easy field goal to tie it up, the Buckeyes turned it over on downs, still down three points at the start of the fourth quarter.
Ohio State would later get the ball back and drive all the way down the field. Fielding would go on to miss a 27-yard field goal wide left, leaving Indiana up 13-10 with just under three minutes left in the game.
The No. 1 defence in the country wasn't able to contain Indiana in the waning minutes of the game as they still look for their first since 2020. But the defending National Champions still have a chance to reclaim their title come playoff time.