The USC Trojans failed to reach their goals this season and missed an opportunity to make the College Football Playoff. They also missed the Big Ten Championship Game. Two of their 2026 opponents will match up on Saturday and try to deliver a Big Ten title game for the ages. The two best teams in the Big Ten and the top two teams in the country will face off. Whoever comes out on top should be the favorite to win it all.
Here are my Week 15 bold predictions for the Big Ten Championship Game:
Fernando Mendoza makes his case for the Heisman, while Julian Sayin struggles
Both Julian Sayin and Fernando Mendoza have been as good as can be and crucial factors for why their team made it to this point. Both quarterbacks are also at the top of the list for candidates for the Heisman trophy. One quarterback in this game will separate himself in that race, and it will be Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza has already had games where he has proved he can battle adversity. Sayin’s first game in a tough environment, against an opponent just as good as his team, will be Saturday. Against Texas, his coaching staff did not fully unleash him, and his defense put together an elite performance to win that game. This matchup will be very different. Sayin will be forced to win this game and will fail, throwing two interceptions. Mendoza, on the other hand, will have a great game, throwing for around 200 yards and two passing touchdowns. One of them will win this football game.
Omar Cooper Jr. will be the best reciever on the field
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will be the two wide receivers who garner the most attention prior to this game, but it will be Omar Cooper Jr. who puts up the best performance. Cooper has been Mendoza’s right-hand man and his go-to all season long. A prime example of this was his game-winning touchdown catch versus Penn State. While Cooper’s numbers are not at the level of the top receivers in college football, in this game, I think he will put up more than 100 yards receiving and two receiving touchdowns. One of his touchdowns will come at a pivotal time in the 4th quarter. With the Hoosiers rattling Julian Saying in this game, both Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate will have limited production. Omar Cooper will make a name for himself on the big stage Saturday.
Bo Jackson has another 100 yard performance on the ground
Bo Jackson has been dominant in the last 5 games, posting 4 100-yard rushing performances. Ohio State bullied its former bully, the Michigan Wolverines, last week, mostly due to how dominant Bo Jackson was with his 117 yards and 5.3 yards per carry average. I think Bo Jackson can replicate that same success against Indiana Saturday night. With my prediction of Julian Sayin struggling as the lights get bright, Ohio State will have to lean on the rushing attack to keep its offense afloat. I think Bo Jackson will carry the load for the Buckeyes’ offense and run for more than 100 yards and at least a rushing touchdown.
Matt Patricia and the Buckeyes’ defense will be on their heels for the first time
The Buckeyes’ defense has been spectacular this season, with their highest total of points given up this season being 16 points versus Illinois, which correlates to them being first in the nation in points allowed with 7.22 points per contest. The Buckeyes are in the top two spots in many other categories, including being first in the nation, allowing 203.0 yards per game, first in the nation, allowing just 3.77 yards per play, and their pass defense ranks second in the nation, allowing 137.8 passing yards per game and 5.3 yards per pass. That would frighten many offenses in the country; those numbers will not cause the Indiana Hoosiers to shrink up. The Hoosiers have all the talent needed to put enough points on the Buckeyes to come out victorious. Fernando Mendoza is a top Heisman candidate at quarterback, Omar Cooper Jr. is one of the best receivers in the country, and that all gets complemented with a solid back in Roman Hemby. Hemby is coming off a 152-yard rushing performance against the Boilermakers last week. The Hoosiers are averaging 40 points a game this season, which ranks second-best in the nation, and are the best third-down offense in the country. The Hoosiers will need to put up points and be elite on third down once again to take down Ohio State. I think they can do it, but it will take great performances from each of their stars on offense. This will be the game where the Buckeyes’ defense does not stone wall and offense, and gives up 20+ points.
Curt Cignetti puts his name among the best coaches
Since joining Indiana, Cignetti has gone 23-2 and has become one of the more polarizing figures of college football. He has completely turned around Indiana and turned this team into a consistent College Football Playoff team. The one thing he is missing from his early great run at Indiana would be taking down Ohio State and getting a Big Ten championship. It is now Indiana’s first time being in the Big Ten championship game, but Cignetti is looking to make the appearance count and leave with some hardware. If he gets the victory Saturday, it is time to start considering his name in conversations with some of the best coaches to ever coach. He, at the very least, will get a statue and never have to pay for a meal in Indiana.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Indiana-Ohio State features QB battle for Heisman and Big Ten title
Reporting by Micah Huff, Trojans Wire / Trojans Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
