IU beats Ohio State to win Big Ten Championship

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — IU took down Ohio State, 13-10, to win the Big Ten Championship.

IU took the lead in the third quarter, with Fernando Mendoza connecting with Elijah Sarratt for a 17 yard touchdown.

“Great win, gutty game, hard-fought, physical football game,” IU head coach Curt Cignetti said. “Wasn’t perfect by either team. We found a way to survive it, made the plays when we had to.”

“So it’s a great win for us, obviously, our first Big Ten title,” Cignetti added. “Now I’ve got three and a half weeks to kind of humble this team again and get them ready for the playoffs.”

IU won its first Big Ten title since 1967.

Mendoza was 15-for-23 for 222 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

“I think what makes this moment so special tonight, just myself and my family, but for everybody, is just the community of Bloomington and how long they’ve waited for this and how much it means to everybody,” Mendoza said.

Kaelon Black led the Hoosiers in rushing with 16 carries for 69 yards.

Charlie Becker was IU’s leading receiver with six catches for 126 yards. Sarratt had three catches for 37 yards and a touchdown.

“It’s all the hard work that all of my teammates put in,” Becker said. “As soon as everybody got in here in the spring, me Fernando, Alberto (Mendoza), we were working hard indoor, 5:30, 6 in the morning, trying to get that connection...