Off-Script Ohio: Reacting to Ohi State’s loss in Indy and what it means for the playoff

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Ohio State entered the Big Ten Championship with momentum and a chance to solidify the top seed in the College Football Playoff, but a 13–10 loss to Indiana exposed familiar issues that resurfaced at the worst possible time. In a game defined by defense, field position, and missed offensive opportunities, the Buckeyes struggled to generate consistency and fell victim to their own red-zone inefficiency.

Indiana continued its remarkable two-year ascent under Curt Cignetti, controlling the pace with a disruptive front that shut down Ohio State’s run game and kept Julian Sayin under constant pressure. Sayin never found a rhythm behind an offensive line that particularly struggled on the right side, speeding up the quarterback’s internal clock and limiting the passing attack to quick throws and conservative concepts.

Ohio State’s offensive approach amplified the problem. The game plan leaned heavily conservative, including a scoreless drive before halftime, where the Buckeyes showed little urgency to push for points. Inside the red zone, issues that had been masked throughout the season finally cost them. Play calling became predictable, third and short situations were not executed well, and repeated quarterback sneaks with Sayin have produced little success. Critical downs also featured puzzling personnel decisions, including snaps without star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on the field.

Defensively, Ohio State delivered a strong performance, holding Indiana to 13 points and making life difficult for quarterback Fernando Mendoza. While the secondary had an uncharacteristically shaky game with several miscommunications and missed plays from Jermaine Matthews and Lorenzo Styles Jr., the unit as a whole limited explosive plays and forced Indiana to grind out drives. The front seven, led by continued strong play at linebacker, again set the tone.

Across the country, the postseason picture shifted dramatically. Tulane and James Madison each secured historic College Football Playoff berths, Georgia dismantled Alabama in a game that highlighted the programs’ opposite trajectories, Texas Tech rolled BYU behind a surging defense, and Duke captured the ACC title in overtime despite five losses. The latest CFP rankings raised questions, particularly regarding Alabama’s lack of downward movement and Miami’s leap over idle Notre Dame, creating a wide range of potential first-round matchups.

For Ohio State, the path forward remains intact. The Buckeyes are now at No. 2 in the playoff rankings and await a semifinal matchup in the Cotton Bowl against either Miami or Texas A&M. On the other side of the bracket, Georgia will face Ole Miss in the Fiesta Bowl after reclaiming dominant form behind a resurgent late-season push.

Meanwhile, Ohio State basketball delivered a much-needed lift with an 86–82 Quad 1 road win over Northwestern. Brandon Noel led the way with 29 points as the Buckeyes look ahead to a challenging stretch that includes Illinois, West Virginia, and North Carolina.

With two weeks before the next football game and one week before the playoff slate begins, Ohio State has time to address critical issues, particularly in the red zone and short-yardage situations. Postseason awards will also come into focus, with several Buckeyes in contention, including Jeremiah Smith for the Biletnikoff, Arvelle Reese for the Butkus, and Caleb Downs for the Thorpe.

Despite the disappointment in Indianapolis, Ohio State remains firmly in the national title hunt. The Buckeyes will need to recalibrate the offense, trust their playmakers, and adopt a more aggressive approach to maximize their postseason opportunity when they return to action on New Year’s Eve at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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