#2 Indiana and #1 Ohio State Battle for the Big Ten Football Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium The stage is set for Saturday Night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis when the #1 Ohio State Buckeyes and #2 Indiana Hoosiers collide in the Discover Big Ten Championship Football Game with Kickoff at 8 PM and television coverage on FOX. Both teams finished the regular season with a 12-0 record and 9-0 record in the Big Ten as they share the regular season title. For Indiana it’s the first time since 1967 that they have won a share of the Big Ten Championship and just the third Big Ten Title in program history. Indiana finished 9-0-1 in 1945 for their only outright Big Ten Championship. These two have been ranked #1 and #2 in the polls for the last seven weeks and every week that the College Football Playoff rankings have come out and now this will be the third time in FBS History that the top two teams meet in a conference championship game.
The last time two teams meet in a conference championship game was in 2009 when #2 Alabama beat #1 Florida 32-13 in the SEC Championship Game and 2008 #2 Florida beat #1 Alabama 31-20 with both matchups taking place in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. This is the first time since 2022 that the top two teams have faced off when #2 Georgia beat #1 Tennessee 27-13 in Athens, Georgia on November 5, 2022. The Bulldogs went on the win the College Football Playoff that season dismantling TCU 65-7. This will be the third time in Big Ten History that a #1 vs #2 matchup has occurred. In 1985 Iowa and Michigan squared off and 2006 it was Ohio State and Michigan. Since 1936 there have been 51 times that the top two teams have meet and nine where both are from the same conference.
For Indiana they are looking to avenge a loss to Ohio State as the Buckeyes beat the Hoosiers 38-15 in Columbus a season ago. Ohio State has dominated this series leading 81-12-5 and have not lost to the Hoosiers since 1988. Head Coach Curt Cignetti is 23-2 in his two seasons with the Hoosiers, and his 23 wins are the second most in Big Ten History behind Urban Meyer who won 24 games in his first two seasons in Columbus in 2012-13. Cignetti broke a tie with Michigan’s Fielding Yost who won 22 games in 1901-02. The Hoosiers dismantled Purdue 56-3 last Friday Night at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette to complete a perfect regular season. The Hoosiers scored five rushing touchdowns and threw for three more as Indiana has outscored Purdue 122-3 in the last two matchups and kept the Old Oaken Bucket for the second year in a row.
Ohio State won at Michigan 27-9 last Saturday as the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines for the first time since 2019 snapping a four-game losing streak to their archrivals. Quarterback Julian Sayin threw three touchdown passes and Freshman Bo Jackson ran for 117 yards as Ohio State shutout Michigan 10-0 in the second half after leading 17-9 at halftime. There is a lot at stake Saturday Night. The Winner will get the automatic bid into the Conference Football Playoff and should be the number 1 seed when the 12-team field is announced on Sunday Afternoon. For the team that loses they will be in the field, but the question will be will they stay in the top four and get a first round bye. That remains to be seen depending on the result but if the game is close that should be the case.
The quarterback battle between Fernando Mendoza and Julian Sayin could determine who wins the Heisman Trophy when it is announced on Saturday December 13, in New York City. Mendoza has thrown for 2,758 yards 32 touchdowns and 5 Interceptions. The California transfer has completed 211 of his 293 passes this season setting a school record with the most touchdown passes in a single season. Mendoza has carried the ball 64 times for 243 yards and scored 6 rushing touchdowns while being sacked 15 times. Sayin has thrown for 3,065 yards with 30 touchdown passes and 5 Interceptions and been sacked 6 times. He has carried the ball 31 times for 27 yards but does not have a rushing touchdown this season. The Sophomore from Carlsbad, California started his career at Alabama and transferred to Ohio State and a season ago was the backup quarterback only throwing 12 passes all season completing five of them for 84 yards and a touchdown pass.
Indiana’s offense is averaging 483.8 yards, 254.1 yards passing, 229.8 yards rushing and 44.3 points per game in which three of those categories the Hoosiers rank in the top 10 in the FBS. On defense Indiana is allowing 251.8 yards, 172.5 passing yards, 79.3 rushing yards and 10.9 points per game as the Hoosiers are second in the FBS in both rushing yards and points allowed. Indiana leads the FBS with a +17-turnover margin. Ohio State’s offense is averaging 438.5 yards, 267 yards passing, 171.5 yards rushing and 37 points per game. The Buckeyes defense is first in the FBS with 203 yards, 121.3 passing yards and 7.8 points allowed and fourth with 81.7 rushing yards allowed. Ohio State is the defending National Champion and Head Coach Ryan Day wants to get his team back to the promise land and lift the trophy for the second year in a row. For Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers, they are on a mission that Indiana Football is here to stay, and they are going to be a contender year in a year out and keep making history the likes that have never been seen before in Indiana Football History.
Indiana University Women’s Volleyball Takes down Toledo in the NCAA Tournament Opener It’s been a season for the record books in 2025. Head coach Steve Aird and his Indiana volleyball team will rewrite history this year after breaking the program’s single season wins record on Thursday evening. IU defeated Toledo in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, 3-0, to win its 24th game of the season – a single-year record in the NCAA era. This year’s IU team has been one of the best in the country. Aird and the Hoosiers reset program records for overall wins (24), Big Ten wins (14), regular season wins (23), road wins (9), Big Ten road wins (7) and ranked road wins (3). IU will play fifth-seeded Colorado tomorrow (Dec. 4) evening for a chance at a 25-win season and a spot in the regional semifinals for the first time since 2010.
IU’s roster has been balanced by the play of talented seniors and a cohort of fantastic freshmen. Senior outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and senior opposite hitter Avry Tatum have been great for Aird and the Hoosiers this year. The duo has combined for 718 kills while playing in every contest this season. Both players were First Team All-Big Ten selections and will have a case at earning AVCA All-American honors. No matter what happens the rest of the way, this will go down as one of, if not the, greatest seasons in program history. An electric crowd is expected at Wilkinson Hall tonight as IU meets fifth-seeded Colorado (6 p.m.) on ESPN+ for a chance at a trip to the NCAA’s regional semifinals. If the Hoosiers beat the Buffaloes, it would be the first AVCA top 25 win at home since 2023.
Fernando Mendoza and Carter Smith Earn Specialty Awards as Seven Tabbed All-Conference for Indiana Football The Indiana football program added more hardware from the Big Ten Conference coaches and media panels on Thursday as quarterback Fernando Mendoza and offensive lineman Carter Smith both earned specialty awards to headline an offense that saw a program-record seven All-Big Ten honorees. Mendoza was named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year and Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. He is the first to earn the conference’s quarterback of the year honor since its inception in 2011. He is the fourth Hoosier to earn Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and joins Anthony Thompson (1988 & 1989) and Antwaan Randle El (2001).
Along with those honors, Mendoza was the first-team All-Big Ten quarterback and is just the seventh IU signal caller and first since Randle El in 2001 to earn first team honors. It is just the third time since 1950 a Hoosier took the first team spot at quarterback along with Randle EL and Harry Gonso (1967). The Rimington-Pace Offensive Lineman of the Year began in 1984, and Smith is the first Indiana offensive lineman to earn the award. He is also the first offensive to earn a first-team All-Big Ten since Don Schrader in 1987. He is the first offensive tackle to grab a first team spot since Charley Peal in 1977.
Along with the seven defensive honorees and three specialists honored on Wednesday, Indiana saw a program-record 17 players earn a spot on the Big Ten first, second or third teams. IU added two honorable mention nods for a total of 19 student-athletes honored by the conference’s coaches and media. Mendoza and Smith were the two first team honorees, while wide receivers Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt were selected to the second team by both the coaches and media. Center Pat Coogan and tight end Riley Nowakowski were each selected to the second team by the media and third team by the coaches. Running back Roman Hemby was a third team choice by the media panel, and an honorable mention pick from the head coaches.
Taylor University Men’s Basketball Set to Host 28th-Annual Silent Night The greatest tradition in small-college athletics will grab the spotlight once again on Friday, December 5, when Taylor hosts Moody Bible for a sold out 28th-Annual Silent Night inside Odle Arena at 6:00 pm. The Taylor men’s basketball team is nearly perfect at Silent Night, having won 26 of the previous 27 games. The Trojans are coming off a 107-59 win over Moody Bible in last year’s game. TU reached the 100-point barrier in 2024, 2023, 2015, 2010 and 2003, with its highest scoring output on Silent Night coming with 112 points in 2010.
Nate Paarlberg scored the 10th point on a dunk last season to become the 21st member of the exclusive club and is the lone Trojan on this year’s roster to have broken the silence. Paarlberg could join four other players in the history of Silent Night who have scored the 10th point more than once, with Andrew Davies (1997, 1998), Casey Coons (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012), Evan Crowe (2015, 2016) and Jake Heggeland (2017, 2018) having done so.
Taylor’s meeting with Moody Bible will mark just the second time that the two programs have squared off on the hardwood, with both meetings coming on Silent Night. Doors are set to open to Odle Arena for Taylor students at 4:30 pm and for the general public at 5:00 pm on Friday. Tickets will be scanned at the door for entry. No additional tickets are available for purchase online or at the game. Most seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Fans are asked to remain off the purple boundary around the court while the game is being played and to keep the aisles clear at all times.
Those unable to attend the game can enjoy a free HD webcast provided by the Trojan Sports Network at YouTube.com/TaylorAthletics, as well as by using the video links available on TaylorTrojans.com. The video stream is set to begin at 4:00 pm to allow viewers the opportunity to catch the pregame activities. A special on-court pregame show will begin at 5:15 pm, including multiple interviews with special guests and students in attendance. Fans are encouraged to join the conversation online during Silent Night by sharing photos and videos to social media by using #TUSilentNight. To learn more about Silent Night, please visit TaylorTrojans.com/SilentNight.
THINGS TO KNOW-No additional tickets are available for Silent Night, -Tickets are required for entry into Odle Arena, -Doors will open for Taylor students at 4:30 pm, -Doors will open for the general public at 5:00 pm, -Most seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-serve basis, -Parking is free and available in the lots surrounding Odle Arena and -Fans can use #TUSilentNight to share posts on social media.
Marian University Football Withdrawn from the NAIA Football Playoffs Marian University has been withdrawn from the NAIA Football Championship Series after discovering an academically ineligible player participated in three games this season. The university self-reported the eligibility issue to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) following a routine internal review, leading to the cancellation of Marian’s scheduled playoff game against Keiser University on Dec. 6, 2025. “We sincerely apologize to Keiser University, the NAIA, our student-athletes, and the Marian community that we cannot continue our season,” said Steve Downing, Marian director of athletics.
Steve Downing expressed disappointment over the situation and mentioned that Marian University is taking immediate steps to address the root causes of the eligibility issue. The university has identified gaps in its processes and is implementing strengthened academic and eligibility checks, along with completing a formal internal review. President Daniel J. Elsener sent a letter to the university community, expressing regret over the circumstances and the disruption caused to the team and community. Elsener assured that the university is conducting a full audit of its academic and compliance processes to determine what failed and is committed to correcting the issue.
The university is “fully cooperating with the NAIA and is committed to supporting the student-athlete involved and the entire football program.” Marian University’s football season has ended prematurely due to the eligibility issue, and the university is focused on strengthening its procedures to prevent future occurrences.
Indianapolis Colts Cornerback Kenny Moore II Nominated by the Team for the Watler Payton NFL Man of the Year Award One of the biggest awards in the NFL each season is the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The award recognizes “players who excel on the field and demonstrate a commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.” Each NFL team nominates a player for the annual honor. On Thursday, the Indianapolis Colts announced that cornerback Kenny Moore II will be the team’s nominee for the 2025 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. “It’s an honor to represent this organization as well as the city in this space,” Moore said.
This is the third time that the Colts have nominated Moore for the prestigious award. He was nominated in 2024 and in 2021. “I feel like it’s been such an honor to have a front seat to see him grow both on and off the field, but he really had a dedication and passion to impact his community and impact his team, and I think that it goes without saying, being the third year that he’s been our nominee, that he has done that,” Colts Owner and Chief Brand Officer Kalen Jackson said. “I was trying to think of something this year in particular that I think really exemplifies both the excellence on and off the field, which is what this award is all about. And when you are in the community and you are asking little kids what celebration dance you should do if you make a big play on the field, and then you go into the game that Sunday, you make that big play, and you keep your promise to that little kid, is exactly what this is all about.”
As big of an impact as Moore has on the field, which is a lot, he may even have a bigger impact off of the field. For instance, Moore’s Love One Foundation aims “to build a world where every young person feels seen, supported, and inspired to chase what matters most.” He even teaches kids each week at Cardinal Ritter High School in Indianapolis. While there, he talks to students about a range of topics. “The things that I’m able to do now, the people that I’ve been able to brush shoulders with over the last several years have been a key piece for me,” Moore said. “And it takes a village. It takes a village, and I’ve had a lot of great people around me, fortunately. So, I think we all help each other.” The winner of this year’s Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be unveiled on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the NFL Honors.
“To see him in that light year after year, I’m hoping they stop messing around and just let Kenny lock this in because he deserves it so much,” Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said. “It’s evident from not only the passion that he plays with on the field, but the passion that he shows people off of the field in Indianapolis, in his community back home. So, it’s just inspiring.” “The winner of the award each year receives up to a $250,000 donation to the charity of his choice, while all 32 club winners receive up to a $40,000 donation to their charity of choice. All donations are courtesy of the NFL Foundation and Nationwide Foundation.,” according to the NFL.