2026 Indiana vs 2026 Ohio State

Indiana
6–0 · 26.7 (5th of 138)
vs
Ohio State
5–1 · SP+ 29.5 (1st of 138)

Hypothetical

Ohio State by 7.9

71% to win

High confidence — 5 games in — see our accuracy

Hypothetical forecast · SBR sbr-2r

Why this number

IndianaPreseason baseline +24.5In-season results +2.0
Ohio StatePreseason baseline +31.8In-season results +0.1
Ohio State home field +2.5

How they're built

0–100 percentile · higher is stronger

Compare the whole profile, then explore each dimension.

2026 Indiana Offense · SP+ 2026: 39.3, 96th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Indiana Defense · SP+ 2026: 12.8, 98th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Indiana Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.2, 69th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Indiana Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 226.5 pts, 80th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Indiana Experience · returning production 2026: 17% returning, 24th percentile (2026 roster)2026 Ohio State Offense · SP+ 2026: 41.3, 100th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Ohio State Defense · SP+ 2026: 11.7, 100th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Ohio State Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.2, 20th percentile (2026 season to date)2026 Ohio State Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 301.2 pts, 98th percentile (2026 signing class)2026 Ohio State Experience · returning production 2026: 68% returning, 81st percentile (2026 roster)0100Offense · SP+ 2026Defense · SP+ 2026Special teams · SP+ 2026Recruiting · 2026 signing classExperience · returning production 2026
  • 2026 Indiana Offense · SP+ 2026: 39.3, 96th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Ohio State Offense · SP+ 2026: 41.3, 100th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Indiana Defense · SP+ 2026: 12.8, 98th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Ohio State Defense · SP+ 2026: 11.7, 100th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Indiana Special teams · SP+ 2026: 0.2, 69th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Ohio State Special teams · SP+ 2026: −0.2, 20th percentile (2026 season to date)
  • 2026 Indiana Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 226.5 pts, 80th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Ohio State Recruiting · 2026 signing class: 301.2 pts, 98th percentile (2026 signing class)
  • 2026 Indiana Experience · returning production 2026: 17% returning, 24th percentile (2026 roster)
  • 2026 Ohio State Experience · returning production 2026: 68% returning, 81st percentile (2026 roster)
Emphasize a team

Offensive production relative to that season’s field. Compare an offense with the opposing defense in the scouting report.

Recruiting and experience add context; the five axes aren't equal weights in the forecast.

The numbers behind the profiles

Measure2026 Indiana2026 Ohio State
Offensive / play0.4199th percentile0.3190th percentile
PPA allowed / play−0.0685th percentile−0.1093rd percentile
Points per game40.291st percentile6 games42.796th percentile6 games
per game11.897th percentile6 games13.295th percentile6 games

Programs don't stand still

SP+ percentile among FBS teams, by season. The marked point is each compared season.

2026 Indiana2026 Ohio State
Indiana 2026: 97th percentileOhio State 2026: 100th percentile2000200520102015202020250255075100

Momentum

Indiana→ steady (+5 pctl over 3 seasons)
Ohio State→ steady (0 pctl over 3 seasons)

Talent in, results out

Recruiting-class percentile feeding each roster, compared with its SP+ result.

2026 Indiana
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
61st percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
97th percentile
Outperforming its talent (+36)
2026 Ohio State
Average signing-class percentile, classes 2023–2026
97th percentile
SP+ percentile, 2026
100th percentile
Matching its talent (+3)

Campus distance

195 miles apart

There's more to the matchup.

Supporting context, ready when you want it.

In the trenches · both directions
MatchupO-lineD-line
2026 Indiana OL vs 2026 Ohio State DL307.0 lbs280.2 lbs
2026 Ohio State OL vs 2026 Indiana DL309.2 lbs272.3 lbs

2026 Indiana line yards 3.50 · 2026 Ohio State stuff rate 19.8%

2026 Ohio State line yards 3.15 · 2026 Indiana stuff rate 25.1%

Fans swear big lines win games. They're half right — big-line teams do win more, but only because good programs recruit big linemen. Once we account for talent and last season, line size adds nothing to the prediction. Across 11 seasons, no measurable effect on margin.

Roster size is context. It isn't a forecast advantage.

Backtested effect: 0.42 pts at 1σ.

Head-to-head · Ohio State leads 22–1 since 2000

Indiana has won 1 straight

SeasonScoreVenue
2025Indiana 13–10 Ohio StateNeutral site
2024Indiana 15–38 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2023Indiana 3–23 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2022Indiana 14–56 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2021Indiana 7–54 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2020Indiana 35–42 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2019Indiana 10–51 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2018Indiana 26–49 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2017Indiana 21–49 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2016Indiana 17–38 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2015Indiana 27–34 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2014Indiana 27–42 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2013Indiana 14–42 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2012Indiana 49–52 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2011Indiana 20–34 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2010Indiana 10–38 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2009Indiana 14–33 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2006Indiana 3–44 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2005Indiana 10–41 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2004Indiana 7–30 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2003Indiana 6–35 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
2002Indiana 17–45 Ohio StateOhio Stadium · Ohio State home
2001Indiana 14–27 Ohio StateMemorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) · Indiana home
Coaching & program context
2026 Indiana

HC

  • Curt Cignetti

OC

  • Mike Shanahan
  • Tino Sunseri (co-OC)

career average +35.3 SP+ offense

Scheme: Pro spread (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Run-heavy, grind-it-out (threw on 39% of its run–pass plays, 16th percentile of 2026 FBS; 60.5 plays a game, 9th percentile)

DC

  • Bryant Haines

career average +18.4 SP+ defense

Scheme: Multiple 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

2026 Ohio State

HC

  • Ryan Day

OC

  • Arthur Smith
  • Keenan Bailey (co-OC)

career average +37.6 SP+ offense

Scheme: Pro spread (listed on Wikipedia)

Style: Balanced, average pace (threw on 44% of its run–pass plays, 38th percentile of 2026 FBS; 69.2 plays a game, 66th percentile)

DC

  • Matt Patricia
  • Tim Walton (co-DC)

career average +7.7 SP+ defense

Scheme: 4–2–5 (listed on Wikipedia)

A new coordinator feels like it should swing a game. Across 11 seasons, the change doesn't move the final margin beyond what the roster already tells us. Shown as context, not a factor in our number.

Run-heavy team meets a defense that can't stop the run — feels like extra points waiting. Across 7 seasons the matchup adds nothing beyond what the two ratings already say; if anything the point estimate leans the other way.

Watching the next one?

Ohio State at Indiana · October 17, 2026

View scouting report

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