In a result that has sent shockwaves through American college football, the Indiana Hoosiers have secured their first outright Big Ten Conference championship since 1945. The team, led by head coach Curt Cignetti, achieved the historic feat with a nail-biting 13-10 victory over the top-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in Indianapolis on Saturday night.
The Cignetti Revolution: From Losing Streak to National Contenders
When Curt Cignetti accepted the head coaching role at Indiana 737 days ago, he issued a bold promise to transform the culture of a struggling programme. He famously dismissed the idea of moral victories, demanding immediate and significant success. His vision has been realised at a breathtaking pace, turning the Football Bowl Subdivision's (FBS) former most losing programme into the nation's number one playoff seed and a genuine championship contender.
Taking over a team that had suffered three consecutive losing seasons, Cignetti brashly challenged doubters to review his past achievements. The former Nick Saban assistant delivered instantly, setting a school record with 11 wins and guiding the Hoosiers to their first-ever playoff appearance in his debut year. Many believed that success could not be replicated, but the 2025 season has seen Indiana reach even greater heights.
A Historic Night in Indianapolis
The championship-clinching game was a defensive masterclass. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, playing through injury from the first snap, provided two moments of sheer brilliance to secure the win. In the third quarter, he threw a perfectly placed 17-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt on the sideline to give Indiana a 13-10 lead. Then, with roughly two minutes remaining and facing a critical third down, he connected with Charlie Becker on an incredible 33-yard pass to seal the victory.
"Although I got hit, I never was going to stay down," Mendoza said after the game. "I'd die for my brothers on that field." His performance has made him the first Hoosier to be named the Big Ten's top quarterback since 2001 and has positioned him as a frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy.
Ending Decades of Dominance
The victory was laden with historical significance. Indiana not only claimed its first outright conference title in 80 years but also snapped a 30-year losing streak against Ohio State, dating back to 1988. In the process, they ended the nation's longest active winning streak at 16 games and the Big Ten's longest winning streak in the series. This follows their October win over then No. 3 Oregon, which halted the nation's longest active regular-season and home winning streaks.
Cignetti's remarkable two-year tenure now stands at 24 wins and only 2 losses, with those defeats coming last season against Ohio State and Notre Dame—the two teams that eventually contested the national championship. The coach, who this week earned his second consecutive Big Ten Coach of the Year award, stated plainly after the game: "I wasn't going to play not to lose."
What Comes Next for the Hoosiers?
With an unbeaten 13-0 record, Indiana now enters the college football playoffs as the nation's last remaining undefeated team. They boast both an offence and a defence ranked in the top five for scoring, and they demonstrated against Ohio State an ability to win a grinding, physical battle—wearing down opponents and keeping them out of the end zone.
For a university celebrated for its success in men's basketball, soccer, and swimming, this football triumph marks an unprecedented moment. Linebacker Isaiah Jones summed up the team's mentality, stating of the championship win: "It means a lot, we played for each other. For any of the doubters out there, this was the final nail in the coffin." The Hoosiers now embark on a playoff journey, believing they possess the qualities to continue a story that seemed utterly implausible just two short years ago.
