In the 1970s, commentators took great joy in lobbing the “Big Two and Little Eight” nickname toward the Big Ten. The Midwestern game seemed to be played entirely on Michigan and Ohio State’s terms; the only program not named the Wolverines or Buckeyes to win even a share of the conference title from 1968 to ’80 was Michigan State in 1978.
The year 2025 has followed that pattern, but with one crucial difference. While the recession-proof No. 1 Buckeyes have started 10–0 behind one of the most dominant defenses in recent memory, No. 2 Indiana—once one of the conference’s lovable losers—has rocketed to its own 11–0 start and at times has looked superior to Ohio State.
