Joel Klatt picks Ohio State over Indiana in Big Ten Championship game

Joel Klatt has seen enough to make his call for the Big Ten title matchup, and who comes out on top. On the latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show, the FOX Sports analyst laid out his projection for how the conference race will shake out.

He’s forecasting a battle between Ohio State and Indiana in the Big Ten Championship Game: “In the Big Ten, I started playing this thing out,” Klatt said. “And I know that there’s going to be fan-bases upset with this, but I project an Indiana-Ohio State Big Ten Championship Game. Both of them at 12-0, 9-0 in the Big Ten.”

It’s an interesting pick, but given Indiana’s meteoric rise under head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers have become undeniable. They’ve been one of college football’s biggest surprises in Year 2 under their head coach, riding a staunch defense and the steady play of quarterback Fernando Mendoza to an undefeated record through late October.

But as impressive as Indiana’s turnaround has been, Klatt still believes the Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 in the country, are a level above everyone else: “I think at this point, I’m just going to go with the team that’s the No. 1 team in the country, so Ohio State wins that game,” Klatt continued. “Let’s just say that projected out. So, Ohio State beats Indiana, which means Ohio State would be 13-0. Indiana would be 12-1.”

Of course, Klatt’s scenario would send the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff as the Big Ten’s undefeated champion, and the likely the No. 1 overall seed. For Indiana, a 12-1 finish with a conference title game appearance would mark a historic season, and it would still keep them in the CFP picture and even in contention for a bye week, depending on how the other leagues shake out.

Moreover, Ohio State has been dominant on both sides of the ball in 2025, led by quarterback Julian Sayin and a defense that’s suffocated nearly every opponent it’s faced. Meanwhile, Indiana’s follow-up to their Cinderella story last season has been one of the sport’s best storylines, as a program once written off would now potentially be playing for a championship in December.

All told, Klatt’s projection adds even more intrigue to what’s already shaping up as a dramatic Big Ten finish. If the Buckeyes and Hoosiers both reach Indianapolis at 12-0, the matchup could be one of the most unexpected and entertaining title games in recent memory.