The Ohio State Buckeyes and Indiana Hoosiers are showing out each and every week during the 2025 season. Hence IU's 8-0 record and OSU's being 7-0. Each has had a specific brand of dominance.
Indiana's is fueled by Fernando Mendoza's nearly 2,000-yard effort under center, and a deep and talented running back room that's getting big performances from Kaelon Black (509 yards, 6.2 YPC, 3 TDs), Roman Hemby (513 yards, 4 TDs), and Khobie Martin (288 yards, 7.2 YPC, 4 TDs).
Ohio State's is fueled by a methodical offense that's predicated on checkdowns and small rushing gains to set up big shots from Heisman candidate Julian Sayin to big-play receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate.
ESPN's Bill Connelly revealed the key difference: Buckeyes offensive coordinator Brian Hartline's sleight of hand, not showing everything he has to offer in the offense just yet.
"They've done that while barely even trying to get aggressive on offense. Julian Sayin's 80% completion rate leads the nation (no one else is even above 75%), but despite having two otherworldly deep threats in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes' average pass is just 7.6 yards downfield (105th), and only 12.9% of completions have gained 20-plus yards (109th). It feels as if they aren't even showing us half the playbook, and they've reached November having barely broken a sweat. Indiana shows us it's one of the best teams in the nation every week; Ohio State just drops us reminders of what it will probably do when the games really matter," Connelly wrote.
If anything, the Hoosiers may be overextending themselves to achieve something never done for the program: finish the season undefeated.
Hartline isn't showing the big guns yet. Come playoff time, the Buckeyes have the element of surprise.
At this point, as long as OSU beats TTUN, the Buckeyes may even hold back against IU in a hypothetical Big Ten Championship Game. All that matters is winning those three or four games en route to the national championship.
Hartline and Ryan Day have been there and done that. Cignetti and his Hoosiers coaching staff have not.