The Athletic has live coverage of the 2025 Big Ten Championship between Indiana and Ohio State.
Regardless of the outcome of Saturday night’s Big Ten championship game, Ohio State and Indiana are likely to get first-round byes in the College Football Playoff. So, does this game really matter?
The answer for the dozens of NFL Draft prospects competing is abso-freaking-lutely. The tape from a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown gets weighted a little differently by NFL teams when deciding how to stack players on the draft board.
Before the game kicks off, let’s stack the top-25 prospects from the nation’s Nos. 1 and 2 teams. Underclassmen have an asterisk by their names, and only draft-eligible underclassmen are included (so no Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith or Rolijah Hardy).
1. Arvell Reese, LB/edge, Ohio State*
Reese is not only the top prospect in this game, but in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. His versatility is the skeleton key that unlocks Matt Patricia’s defensive game plan. Whether lined up as a spy off the ball or on the edge, Reese’s impact is profound and something every NFL team would love to add to its front seven.
The conversation about Indiana’s offense starts with its quarterback, Fernando Mendoza. But Indiana is also the only Big Ten team to rank top 10 nationally in rushing offense — balance is a key principle of the Hoosiers’ RPO-heavy scheme. Reese will be integral in limiting the Hoosiers, who average 44.3 points per game.
This week’s “Arvell Reese is really freaking good” tweet.
Speed. Burst. Violence. What a weapon. pic.twitter.com/fnQ1moA83a
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 1, 2025
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State*
With his talent, toughness and smarts, Downs will be a universally liked prospect in the 2026 class. Safety is a position the NFL generally doesn’t draft in the top 10, so his landing spot will be interesting. Downs could be drafted at No. 3 or No. 13, and neither would be surprising.
Everything I said about Reese’s importance in limiting Indiana’s high-scoring offense also applies to Downs. A lot of Mendoza’s reads will start by locating Downs and trying to keep the ball away from him.
3. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana*
Mendoza was considered a potential first-rounder before he transferred to Indiana, but his fit in coach Curt Cignetti’s scheme and culture has allowed him to thrive. Now, NFL scouts expect him to be in the No. 1 pick conversation all the way through April, mostly because of his football IQ and accuracy.
Against arguably the two best defenses Indiana has faced in 2025, Penn State and Oregon, Mendoza had up-and-down starts before playing his best in the fourth quarter. But Ohio State’s defense is allowing an FBS-best 3.8 yards per play and 121.3 passing yards per game, so this will be the closest thing to an NFL defense Mendoza will face and will provide a key measuring stick for NFL scouts. Because of his poise and preparation, Mendoza will be ready for the moment.
4. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State*
With his detailed approach, vertical route-running skills and dominance at the catch point, Tate is a big play waiting to happen. His 50-yard touchdown catch against Michigan was his ninth reception of 40-plus yards in 2025. Tate has put himself in the conversation to be WR1 and a top-10 pick in the upcoming draft.
5. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State*
The spine of the Ohio State defense has been impressive in 2025, and it’s started with McDonald in the trenches. He refuses to be moved from his spot, and he plays with the violence and quickness to discard single blocks and create disruption at the line of scrimmage. Fans can overlook a nose tackle’s impact, but NFL coaches will be pounding the table for McDonald, who was recently named the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.
What does a 1st round NT look like?
Kayden McDonald. pic.twitter.com/SPBaVUrHOP
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) November 30, 2025
6. Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
Reese’s emergence has taken some of the attention away from Styles, but opposing offenses can’t afford to overlook the latter’s impact. At 6 feet 4 1/2 and 240 pounds with 4.5 speed, Styles is a freaky athlete who continues to get better with each game. He doesn’t lead the Buckeyes in highlight plays, but good luck finding negative reps on his tape.
7. Carter Smith, OT/G, Indiana
Two Hoosiers cracked my midseason ranking of the top-50 draft prospects: Mendoza and Smith. The left tackle grew up 20 miles north of Columbus but didn’t receive an offer from the Buckeyes, so he might have a little extra motivation in this matchup. Smith has yet to allow a sack in 2025, which speaks to his balance and anchor through engagement.
8. Kenyatta Jackson Jr., edge, Ohio State*
Jackson destroyed Michigan’s left tackle in the regular-season finale, setting up a great matchup against Smith on Saturday night. Often lining up as a 4i lineman on the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle, Jackson uses his length and quickness to shed and be disruptive against both pass and run. He has one more year of eligibility if he wants it, but a potential spot in the top 50 in April is on the table.
9. Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State*
A 6-foot-2 corner with 33-inch arms and 4.4 speed, Igbinosun will be catnip for NFL teams. Penalties are always going to be an issue for him, though, so teams will have to reconcile that trade-off — his aggressive play style is a double-edged sword.
When they’re matched up on the outside, Igbinosun versus Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt will be one of the game’s most important battles. Mendoza loves throwing back shoulders and timing routes to Sarratt, which means tight windows and opportunities for Indiana to exploit Igbinosun’s physicality. We’ll see if the senior cornerback falls for those traps.
10. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana*
Your preference between Cooper and Elijah Sarratt will depend on the type of wide receiver you want. Working mainly out of the slot, Cooper finds space to operate and is more of a run-after-catch threat, using his contact balance and quickness. He ranks in the top five among FBS receivers this season with 24 forced missed tackles.
11. Max Klare, TE, Ohio State*
Klare’s receiving production doesn’t jump off the screen, but that is mostly because Ohio State’s offense prioritizes its receivers. But Klare improved as a run blocker in 2025, and he became more of a focal point in the passing attack when Smith and Tate were sidelined for the Rutgers game, topping 100 yards receiving with a touchdown. He could be the favorite to be TE2 (behind Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq) if he declares.
12. Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
Sarratt is one of the most productive outside receivers in the FBS when targeted — 77 percent of his receptions have resulted in a first down or touchdown. With his big, physical frame, he is strong to the football as a dependable possession target, but Sarratt also has the explosive gear required for the next level.
13. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana*
Listed at 5-9, 173, Ponds is undersized, which will cap his draft upside. But he has been one of the best coverage defenders in college football this season and hasn’t allowed a touchdown over his last 20 games. In his two seasons in Bloomington, Ponds has allowed 49 catches, but just one for more than 20 yards. Any chance he gets against Smith or Tate will be a must-see for scouts.
14. Jermaine Mathews Jr., CB, Ohio State*
With his inside-outside versatility, Mathews will be welcomed into an NFL secondary, either this year or in the 2027 draft. He is coming off arguably his two worst games (including four penalties), but he has a promising skill set. Ohio State will need him to have a strong game against Indiana’s passing offense.
15. Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana
Fisher has been at his best in several of Indiana’s biggest games in 2025 (see the Oregon tape). He plays fast and alert to mirror runs at the line of scrimmage and flies downhill from depth as a blitzer. Given the growth of Ohio State’s rushing success this season, Fisher will play a critical role Saturday.
This might be the easiest pick six @Indianafootball will ever get 😅😬 pic.twitter.com/SeXBHq2B4I
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 25, 2025
16. Caden Curry, edge, Ohio State
This game might mean more to Curry than anyone else on the field. While growing up just outside of Indianapolis, he cheered for the Hoosiers as a kid and came close to staying home before committing to the Buckeyes. Curry had borderline draftable grades entering the season, but his play strength and relentless motor have changed that narrative for the better. He leads Ohio State in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (9.0) and has no problem doing the dirty work.
17. Louis Moore, DB, Indiana
After starting for the Hoosiers in 2023, he was a rotational defensive back at Ole Miss last season before transferring back to Indiana, where he is having a career year. At 5-10, 200 pounds, his size is underwhelming. But Moore, who leads the Hoosiers with five interceptions, is an explosive athlete with the instincts to compete for an NFL nickel role.
18. Austin Siereveld, OT/G, Ohio State*
After bouncing between left and right guard in 2024, Siereveld kicked out to left tackle in 2025 and has yet to allow a sack. However, Indiana leads the Big Ten in pressures created, and the key to a Hoosiers upset will be making Sayin uncomfortable in the pocket. Only a redshirt sophomore, Siereveld likely will return to Columbus in 2026, but this season has vaulted him onto the NFL radar.
19. Mikail Kamara, edge, Indiana
After posting double-digit sacks last season, Kamara has just one in 2025, but he leads Indiana in pressures and has improved as a run defender. He has always been more of a mid- to late-rounder than a Day 2 prospect, so Kamara needs to be a better finisher against Ohio State’s protection to stand out in this showdown.
20. Stephen Daley, edge, Indiana
If you ask 100 college football fans who leads the FBS in tackles for loss, how many would guess Daley (18)? The Kent State transfer has been an unsung hero for the Hoosiers’ defensive front, and he offers the play strength and motor to shuffle up and down the line of scrimmage. Indiana rarely blitzes and trusts its front four to get consistent pressure.
21. Carson Hinzman, OG/C, Ohio State*
Hinzman has come a long way since becoming a starter as a redshirt freshman in 2023. Learning on the job isn’t easy for offensive linemen because the mistakes can be costly. But Hinzman has grown from those experiences, improving from a liability to the glue of the Buckeyes’ front.
22. Brandon Inniss, WR, Ohio State*
With Tate and Smith ahead of him on the depth chart, Inniss can be easy to overlook. But the Ohio State captain has been an integral part of the program’s success (on and off the field). Working from the slot, he has yet to drop a pass, and he’s dependable as a return man.
23. Tyrique Tucker, DT, Indiana*
Another James Madison-to-Indiana success story, Tucker is a fire hydrant in the middle of the line who can create vertical push with his leveraged strength. He is expected to be back in Bloomington next season, but he deserves more praise for what he means to the success of the Hoosiers’ front.
24. Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State
A true Y tight end at 6-5 and 260, Kacmarek has just nine catches (and zero drops) in 2025, but his value is as a hard-nosed blocker who looks to bury defenders each play. Jackson Hawes made only 16 catches during his senior season at Georgia Tech, but the Buffalo Bills drafted him in Round 5 because of his blocking. He’s since emerged as a valuable part of Buffalo’s tight end rotation, and Kacmarek could follow a similar path.
25. Lorenzo Styles, DB, Ohio State
Sonny’s older brother has seen a lot of transition in the last few years, going from Notre Dame to Ohio State and from wide receiver to defensive back. After playing primarily on special teams last season, Lorenzo Styles has given himself a chance to be drafted late with his play as a nickel.
10 senior prospects who just missed: Pat Coogan, C, Indiana; Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana; Kahlil Benson, OT/G, Indiana; Tywone Malone Jr., DT, Ohio State; E.J. Williams Jr., WR, Indiana; Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana; CJ Donaldson, RB, Ohio State; Devan Boykin, DB, Indiana; Hosea Wheeler, DL, Indiana; Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana
