The Ohio State Buckeyes are set for battle with the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday inside Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis, IN. The Buckeyes are back in the Big Ten title for the first time since 2020, when they defeated the Northwestern Wildcats.

That win capped off a four-year streak of the Buckeyes getting to and winning the Big Ten Championship. 

It has been quite a while since the Buckeyes played in this game, and head coach Ryan Day gets the treat of facing the No. 2 team in the country on the other side.

This matchup has everything that you could ever want in a game, let alone a championship game. There are two star quarterbacks, two incredible defenses, and NFL-caliber players everywhere on the field.

So, what must give for the Buckeyes to get the job done? Here are the three keys to the game.

It's been a very long time since the Buckeyes have faced competition that could actually beat them.

Pretty much since August, Ohio State has been able to show up to the field and roll through the opposition. Saturday night, however, will not be the case.

The Buckeyes need to protect the football on offense, and when their defense is on the field, they need to create a possession or two. If the Buckeyes are winning the turnover battle, they are going to set themselves up nicely for a win.

While this is absolutely the best team that the Buckeyes have faced, it is also the best team that the Hoosiers have faced in 2025. Indiana have not faced a defense of this caliber, and in the three times that they have faced a team close to Ohio State's level, they have struggled this year. 

Ohio State's defensive line is one of their best units in the country, and they are going to have to show it on Saturday night. Teams have shown that there can be holes in the Buckeyes' secondary, but that doesn't matter if the quarterback is on his back. Pressuring the quarterback all night is priority number one for the Buckeyes on defense.

There is going to be a point in this football game where the Buckeyes will need a big play. Whether it is early to take a lead or late to win the football game, they have to hit it. They have never shown that they would miss a big opportunity, but don't let tonight be the time to start. 

This historic matchup has the ingredients to be the first really good football game that the Buckeyes have played since August. We'll see if they are up to the task against the Hoosiers.