Eric Boggs
Indiana’s 27–21 national championship victory over Miami on Monday night carried a familiar undercurrent for Ohio State fans, as several of the game’s most decisive moments were delivered by players with deep Buckeye connections. While the trophy headed to Bloomington, scarlet and gray roots were woven throughout the Hoosiers’ title run, serving as a reminder of just how far the influence of Ohio State football reaches.
One of the defining plays of the night came when linebacker Isaiah Jones scooped up a blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown, swinging momentum firmly in Indiana’s favor. Jones is the son of former Ohio State tight end DJ Jones, who played for the Buckeyes from 1992 to 1996, and he grew up in London, Ohio, just a short drive from Ohio Stadium. A three-star prospect in the 2022 class, Jones grew up rooting for Ohio State but ultimately signed with Indiana after not receiving an offer from the Buckeyes. His performance in the championship game, which also included two tackles and a pass breakup, was a full-circle moment that underscored the unpredictable paths recruiting can take.
Another crucial play came late in the fourth quarter, when wide receiver Charlie Becker hauled in a 19-yard back-shoulder fade on fourth-and-five, keeping alive the drive that ended with a go-ahead touchdown. Becker finished the game with four catches for 65 yards and is the son of Dave Becker, who spent the 1995 season as a linebacker at Ohio State. While the family connection to Columbus runs deep, Becker has made it clear his loyalties now lie fully with Indiana, a point he emphasized after the Hoosiers’ Big Ten Championship Game win over the Buckeyes earlier this season.
The final dagger was delivered by cornerback Jamari Sharpe, who intercepted Miami quarterback Carson Beck with less than a minute remaining to seal the national championship. Sharpe is the nephew of former Miami cornerback Glenn Sharpe, a name etched into Ohio State lore for his fourth-down pass interference penalty in the 2003 BCS National Championship Game that helped the Buckeyes secure their first title of the BCS era. This time, a Sharpe once again played a role in the closing moments of a championship, just with a very different ending.
An actual former Buckeye also walked away with a ring. Offensive tackle Zen Michalski, who transferred from Ohio State to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season, played 16 snaps as a sixth offensive lineman and capped his college career with a second straight national championship. Though Michalski is originally from Indiana, his development in Columbus helped prepare him for a meaningful role on a title-winning team.
Indiana’s offensive line was anchored by left tackle Carter Smith, a Powell, Ohio native and Olentangy Liberty graduate who started every game for the Hoosiers. Smith, who was not offered by Ohio State as a three-star prospect, has been open about what beating the Buckeyes meant to him, calling it the one thing he had always wanted to do. His journey from Central Ohio to leading a championship-caliber offensive line was emblematic of the hunger and edge that defined Indiana’s season.
From sons of former Buckeyes to Ohio natives and transfers who once wore the scarlet and gray, Indiana’s championship win was filled with familiar names and backstories for Ohio State fans. While the result belonged to the Hoosiers, the night served as another reminder that the Buckeye footprint on college football’s biggest stage remains impossible to miss.
