The Verdict Is In: Who Is Winning The Ohio State Football Game? (Past Heartbreak & Playoff Preview)
The question of "who is winning the Ohio State football game" has a complex answer right now, blending recent heartbreak with immense future opportunity. As of today, December 21, 2025, the most recent final score saw the Buckeyes lose a stunning Big Ten Championship game, but the team's focus has immediately shifted to the upcoming College Football Playoff (CFP) where they are still a favorite to win the National Championship.
The immediate answer to the question—who won the last game—is the Indiana Hoosiers, who pulled off a massive upset. However, the more pressing question is who is favored to win the next one: the CFP quarterfinal against the Miami Hurricanes. The Buckeyes enter the playoff bracket as one of the top seeds, determined to prove that their recent loss was an anomaly, not a sign of a deeper flaw, setting the stage for a dramatic New Year's Day showdown.
Ohio State Buckeyes: Key Player and Coaching Profiles (2025 Season)
To understand the current state of the program and who is driving the team's success (or recent struggles), it is essential to look at the leadership on the field and the sideline. The 2025 season has been defined by the remarkable emergence of a new star quarterback and the veteran leadership of the head coach.
- Head Coach: Ryan Day
- Born: March 12, 1979 (Age 46)
- Hometown: Manchester, New Hampshire
- Alma Mater: University of New Hampshire (Quarterback)
- Ohio State Tenure: Head Coach since 2019
- Career Trajectory: Day took over for Urban Meyer and has maintained the program’s elite status, consistently competing for national titles. His tenure is often judged on his performance against rivals and in the postseason.
- Current Context: Despite the recent Big Ten Championship loss, Day successfully guided the team to an undefeated regular season and a CFP berth, though pressure remains high to secure a national title.
- Starting Quarterback: Julian Sayin
- Recruitment Status: Former Five-Star Recruit
- 2025 Season Performance: Sayin has had a historic campaign in his first season as a full-time starter.
- National Rankings: He has led the nation in key efficiency metrics, including a stunning 78.4% completion percentage and a 182.05 passing efficiency rating.
- Heisman Candidacy: Sayin was a strong Heisman Trophy candidate, marking a spectacular debut year for the young signal-caller.
- Playoff Role: His high football IQ and developed physical presence make him the central figure in the Buckeyes' quest for the national title.
The Shocking Answer: Who Won the Last Ohio State Game?
The most recent official result is a loss that sent shockwaves through the college football landscape and directly impacted the final CFP seeding. The No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes fell to the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers in the 2025 Big Ten Championship Game with a final score of 13-10.
A Defensive Battle and Offensive Flaws
The game, played on Saturday, December 7, 2025, was a low-scoring, defensive slugfest that saw the heavily favored Buckeyes' offense struggle to find its rhythm. The loss was a bitter pill, as it marked Indiana’s first outright Big Ten championship since 1945.
The Hoosiers' defense, led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, managed to expose deep-seated offensive flaws in the Ohio State scheme. The Buckeyes held a 10-6 lead at halftime, but the offense stalled completely in the second half, allowing Indiana to mount a comeback and secure the 13-10 victory.
This result was a painful reminder that even an undefeated regular season (12-0) can be overshadowed by a single poor performance in a championship setting. The narrow loss raised serious questions about the team’s ability to execute in high-pressure situations, especially after the offense had been so prolific throughout the regular campaign.
The Definitive Preview: Who Is Winning the Next Ohio State Game?
Despite the Big Ten Championship setback, the Buckeyes' strong overall résumé secured them a coveted spot in the expanded College Football Playoff. The next game is the CFP quarterfinal, a high-stakes matchup that will determine their path to the National Championship.
CFP Quarterfinal Matchup Details
Ohio State will face the Miami Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl on January 1, 2026. This game is a quarterfinal, meaning the winner advances to the CFP semifinals, while the loser's season is over. Miami, the 10-seed, earned their way into the quarterfinal by defeating Texas A&M in the first round.
The game is highly anticipated, pitting the Buckeyes' high-powered offensive potential, led by Julian Sayin, against a surging Miami team that has shown grit and defensive prowess in the early playoff rounds.
Expert Predictions and Key Matchups
The consensus among analysts is that Ohio State remains the favorite, but the margin for error is razor-thin, especially after their performance against Indiana. The key to who is winning this game will come down to a few critical matchups:
- Ohio State’s Offensive Line vs. Miami’s Pass Rush: The Buckeyes’ offensive line struggled to protect the quarterback and create running lanes against Indiana. If the Hurricanes can generate similar pressure, it will neutralize Sayin’s effectiveness.
- Julian Sayin’s Bounce-Back: The quarterback must demonstrate the elite efficiency he showed throughout the regular season. His ability to manage the game and avoid turnovers will be crucial for the Buckeyes to control the pace of the Cotton Bowl.
- Ohio State’s Defense: The defense has been a consistent strength, and they will need to shut down the Hurricanes' running game and force Miami's offense into uncomfortable third-down situations.
Prediction models and early expert analysis lean toward an Ohio State victory, projecting that the talent gap and the motivation to avenge the Big Ten loss will be enough to overcome the Hurricanes' momentum. However, Miami has proven they can win tough, low-scoring contests, making an upset entirely possible. The Buckeyes are expected to win, but they must play their best game of the season to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Topical Authority: The Road Ahead and National Championship Aspirations
The "who is winning" narrative extends beyond the Cotton Bowl. With the expanded playoff format, Ohio State's path is clear: win three consecutive games against elite competition to claim the National Championship. The loss to the Indiana Hoosiers, while damaging to their perfect record, did not derail their ultimate goal.
The Buckeyes' season is now a story of redemption. Their performance against Miami will be viewed as a referendum on the coaching staff's ability to fix the offensive issues exposed in the Big Ten Championship. If they can secure a convincing win on New Year's Day, it will re-establish them as the team to beat and shift the conversation from "who is winning" to "can anyone stop" the Ohio State Buckeyes.
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