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History of Indiana-Ohio State series, record between Hoosiers, Buckeyes

Vaseline November 23, 2024

Indiana football has defied all expectations in its first year under Curt Cignetti.

The Hoosiers have transcended an expected 2024 “rebuild” to become a nationally ranked top-five team that is undefeated at 10-0 through Week 13.

The Hoosiers will look to continue their underdog story Saturday when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 2 Ohio State in a potential Big Ten championship elimination game. The game also has huge implications for the College Football Playoff.

Indiana maintained its No. 5 ranking in the CFP Top 25 and projected No. 7 in the 12-team bracket in Tuesday’s third set of CFP rankings.

Despite all that, the Hoosiers enter their biggest test of the season on Saturday as 10.5-point underdogs against the Buckeyes, according to BetMGM. A win would be monumental for Indiana, making it one of the highest-ranked wins in program history. It would also quiet the outside noise that Indiana doesn’t have a signature win on its playoff resume.

The Buckeyes have had the Hoosiers’ number for quite some time. Here’s what you need to know about Indiana’s history against Ohio State, including how many times the Hoosiers have beaten the Buckeyes over the years:

When was Indiana Football’s last win against Ohio State?

The Hoosiers haven’t beaten the Buckeyes since 1988, when they won 41-7 at home in Bloomington, Indiana. That was the second consecutive victory for Indiana, which defeated Ohio State 31-10 in 1987. It was only Indiana’s second winning streak in the series against Ohio State, after the Hoosiers won four straight games in 1903-1905 and 1913.

How many times has Indiana Football defeated Ohio State?

According to the Hoosiers’ record book, Indiana has defeated Ohio State 12 times in the previous 97 meetings. The Buckeyes lead the all-time record at 80-12-5.

The Hoosiers’ first win against the Buckeyes was on November 23, 1901 in Columbus, an 18-6 win. The next year the teams were tied 6-6, then Indiana won the next four meetings to start the series 5-0-1. That four-game winning streak from 1903 through 1913 is the Hoosiers’ longest against the Buckeyes.

As noted by Ohio State in 2022, the series against the Hoosiers is the third-longest running series in program history. Saturday’s game in Columbus will be the 98th all-time meeting between the programs.

Here’s a look at when Indiana has defeated Ohio State:

November 23, 1901: Indiana 18, Ohio State 6
November 28, 1903: Indiana 17, Ohio State 16
November 12, 1904: Indiana 8, Ohio State 0
November 30, 1905: Indiana 11, Ohio State 0
November 1, 1913: Indiana 7, Ohio State 6
November 8, 1924: Indiana 12, Ohio State 7
November 6, 1937: Indiana 10, Ohio State 0
October 30, 1943: Indiana 20, Ohio State 14
November 1, 1947: Indiana 7, Ohio State 0
October 20, 1951: Indiana 32, Ohio State 10
October 10, 1987: Indiana 31, Ohio State 10
October 8, 1988: Indiana 41, Ohio State 7

Indiana-Ohio State football series record

Series record: Ohio State leads 80-12-5
Indiana’s last win: 1988 (41-7)
Ohio State’s last win: 2023 (23-3)

As noted in the Indiana Football record book, the Hoosiers are trailing 80-12-5 in the all-time series against Ohio State. The Hoosiers are currently on a 29-game losing streak against the Buckeyes, not including a tie between games in 1990.

Saturday’s meeting between Indiana and Ohio State will mark the fourth time in all-time series history that both teams have been ranked in the top 25. It’s the first time both teams have been in the top five ranked teams, according to Ohio State’s game notes.