The Ohio State Buckeyes' stout defensive performance on Saturday night against the Indiana Hoosiers was led by defensive end Caden Curry.
After finishing the 2025 regular season with an undefeated record, the Ohio State Buckeyes fell short in the Big Ten Conference Championship Game against the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday night, 13-10.
While the Buckeyes’ offense failed to create a spark the entire game, Ohio State’s defense, once again, had an electric performance. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and his unit held the Hoosiers’ offense to 3.5 yards per carry on the ground and limited quarterback Fernando Mendoza for the majority of the contest.
One of the key contributors to this incredible defensive performance was senior EDGE rusher Caden Curry, who quickly became the team’s most impactful player within the trenches. The veteran defensive end finished the contest with seven tackles, three tackles for losses, and two sacks.
On the first play of the game, Curry instantly set the tone for Saturday’s matchup by leveling Mendoza. While he was still able to complete a nine-yard pass on the play, the hard-but-legal hit was a clear foreshadowing of what would come throughout the rest of the battle.
Seven plays later, Curry managed to rack up his first sack on the night as the Hoosiers' offense entered Ohio State territory on 3rd and 7. The sack ended any hope for Indiana to kick a field goal and forced head coach Curt Cignetti to punt on the opening drive.
In addition to forcing the Hoosiers to punt, Curry was also the reason why the Buckeyes were able to enter the half with a four-point lead.
Similar to how he racked up his first sack, Curry managed to get home on 2nd and 12 with roughly four minutes left in the first half, which prevented the Hoosiers from converting the ensuing play.
Prior to Saturday night, Curry entered the Big Ten Conference Championship game as the Buckeyes’ leader in sacks, and with the veteran playmaker picking up two additional sacks, he is now up to 11 through 13 games.
Curry’s terrific performance was also the third time this season that he’s recorded multiple sacks in a game, as he tallied three against the Washington Huskies and two against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.
Now, the Greenwood, IN native has an opportunity to continue his successful 2025 season during the College Football Playoffs. With the Buckeyes' only loss occurring to the one undefeated team in the top-25, Ohio State will likely end up with a top-four seed and a first-round bye to kick off the team’s National Title run.