For the first time in five years, the Ohio State Buckeyes woke up on the final Sunday of November without the bitter taste of defeat.
After snapping a four-game losing streak to arch-rival Michigan with a decisive 27-9 victory in Ann Arbor on Saturday, the No. 1 Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) have exorcised their biggest demon. But as the celebration quiets in Columbus, a dangerous reality looms: the potential for a massive emotional letdown.
Awaiting them in the Big Ten Championship Game on Dec. 6 is not a sacrificial lamb, but the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0), a program in the midst of its greatest season ever and hungry for a program-defining upset.
Here is why Ohio State must turn the page quickly, and why Indiana enters Indianapolis with more to fight for than just a trophy.
Buckeyes Must Avoid ‘The Hangover’
The emotional toll of “The Game” cannot be overstated. For 365 days, Ryan Day’s program has been hyper-focused on one singular goal: beating Michigan. Having accomplished that mission in convincing fashion, the natural human response is a release of tension—a collective exhale that can be fatal in postseason play.
“It’s one of those moments that you just want to grab onto for a while,” Day said postgame in Ann Arbor. While the catharsis is earned, lingering on it could be costly.
The Buckeyes have already secured a College Football Playoff berth, likely with a first-round bye regardless of next Saturday’s result. The temptation to view the Big Ten title game as a formality—or worse, an exhibition before the “real” playoff begins—is the primary opponent Ohio State faces this week.
Hoosiers Chasing History
While Ohio State fights to maintain intensity, Indiana arrives in Indianapolis fueled by generations of frustration and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have shattered every ceiling previously placed on the program. They have achieved the first 12-win season in school history and the first undefeated regular season.
However, two massive historical hurdles remain, providing the Hoosiers with unmatched motivation:
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Ending the Drought: Indiana has not defeated Ohio State since Oct. 8, 1988, a 41-7 victory in Bloomington. The Buckeyes have won 30 consecutive matchups, the longest active streak in the series.
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Championship Starvation: The Hoosiers have not won an outright Big Ten title since 1945 and last shared the crown in 1967.
The “Google Me” Swagger
Coach Cignetti has instilled a brash confidence in Bloomington that rejects the program’s historical role as a doormat. His now-famous “Google me” introductory press conference set a tone that his team has backed up on the field.
“We’re not looking to sustain it. We’re looking to improve it,” Cignetti said at Big Ten Media Days in July.
For quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers, Saturday represents a chance to validate their meteoric rise on a national stage. A win would not only snap a nearly 40-year losing streak to the Buckeyes but would likely secure the No. 1 overall seed in the College Football Playoff, completing the most improbable turnaround in modern college football history.
While the Buckeyes have the superior roster on paper and the No. 1 ranking, they enter Lucas Oil Stadium fighting human nature. Indiana enters fighting for immortality.
