As the 2025 college football season moves closer to bowl season and playoff contention, one of the most notable developments was the Big Ten Championship matchup between Indiana and Ohio State. In a rare No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup for a conference title, the Indiana Hoosiers pulled off a significant upset over the Buckeyes, clinching the Big Ten crown and securing an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff. Wikipedia
This game not only served as a defining moment for Indiana’s program, but also reshaped playoff expectations nationally. That Indiana team finished its regular season undefeated — a rare feat — and demonstrated how effective execution and trend management can shift the narrative for a program traditionally outside the elite echelon.
As teams prepare for postseason play, patterns such as consistency in scoring efficiency, turnover margin, and performance sustainability over four quarters are proving to be strong indicators of postseason success. Stat Champion will continue to track how these factors interact with strength of schedule and matchup context heading into the final stretch.
