Ohio State's Day: Loss in Big Ten title game 'major lesson' for team

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is hopeful Saturday's 13-10 loss to Indiana in the Big Ten title game will motivate his team heading into the College Football Playoff.

"We weren't consistent enough," Day told reporters after the game. "This is a major lesson for this team that it can come down to one play, two plays, or three plays that decide a game like this.

"This is a tough lesson to learn, and we have to be more efficient across the board ... and that starts with the coaching and goes from there."

The Buckeyes had ample opportunities to take the lead in the second half, including two trips to the red zone that resulted in zero points. Late in the third quarter, a Julian Sayin quarterback sneak failed to gain a yard on fourth and one, which resulted in a turnover on downs.

On the next possession, Sayin threw an incomplete pass into the end zone on 3rd and one at the nine-yard line. Day, who opted against a field goal on the previous drive, decided to send his kicker out to try and even the contest. Jayden Fielding, who was 15 for 17 on field goals entering the game, missed a crucial 27-yard game-tying attempt.

Ohio State's offensive line struggled to maintain Indiana's defensive front, surrendering five sacks and nine tackles for loss. The Buckeyes allowed only six sacks in 12 games entering the Big Ten championship

The loss to Indiana was Ohio State's first defeat of the 2025 season, and they will likely drop out of the top spot in the College Football Playoff.

"The season is not over," Day added. "We got a lot of football ahead of us, and hopefully we can use this as a way to get better as we head into the playoffs."