@ Iowa

 

— Fernando Mendoza threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 1:28 to play to give No. 11 Indiana a 20-15 win over Iowa.

Indiana came into the game ranked second nationally in total offense and scoring offense, was held to 337 yards and its lowest scoring output of the season. But the Hoosiers got two touchdown passes from Mendoza, who threw for 233 yards, and two field goals from Nico Radicic.

Indiana took an early 7-0 lead. An interception by Amare Ferrell on the third offensive play of the game gave the Hoosiers the ball at Iowa's 24-yard line, and they quickly converted with Mendoza's 14-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr.

After Indiana stopped Iowa on its final possession, Mendoza ran off the last seconds of the game by sprinting into the end zone, where he was tackled for a safety.

:

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Game summary © ESPN 

Illinois

 

The Illini would enter the game in the UP-Coach’s poll ranked #9 while the Hoosiers entered at #19.

Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes and D'Angelo Ponds scooped up the punt he blocked and returned it 11 yards for a score, leading  Indiana past Illinois 63-10 for its first win over a top 10 foe in five years — and easily the most lopsided.

Indiana's previous best was a 31-10 victory at then No. 9 Ohio State in 1987. It marked the first time since 1950 the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini squared off with each ranked. 

The Fighting Illini offense struggled as quarterback Luke Altmeyer was under pressure all night. Illinois allowed five sacks and rushed for only 3 yards in the first half, falling into an insurmountable 35-10 deficit. Indiana sealed the win with TD drives on each of its first two second-half possessions.

It was the worst loss of coach Bret Bielema's tenure at Illinois and the worst for the Illini since a 63-0 rout at home against Iowa in 2018.

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

Game summary © ESPN 

IU v Indiana State

The Hoosiers would host the Sycamores for a rare Friday night lights game scheduled for a 6:30 pm kickoff scoring their largest shutout win since 1901 defeating the Sycamores 73-0

For the first half, Indiana scored touchdowns on six of seven actual possessions, while getting a field goal on the other. It was pure domination in every sense of the word, just as most expected it to be. 

Fernando Mendoza saw 19 of his 20 pass attempts caught by teammates, five of which went for touchdowns. Younger brother Alberto Mendoza was also able to get a good amount of playing time, completing 6 of 9 pass attempts for another 105 yards and two Hoosiers touchdowns.

Indian led the stat sheet with 33-5 first downs while Omar Cooper Jr. led the way with 10 Receptions, 207 Yards, and 4 Touchdowns. 

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

espn game recap

Kennesaw State

 

The Hoosiers second home stand would be played at “The Rock” now named Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium scheduled for a noon kickoff. 

— Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns to lead No. 23 Indiana to a 56-9 rout of Kennesaw State. The Hoosiers, who saw their ranking drop three spots to No. 23 following a closer-than-expected 27-14 victory over Old Dominion, should maintain their ranking with a convincing victory. Indiana didn’t commit a turnover and was penalized just three times. Indiana held a 593-271 edge in total yards.

Following a fumble recovery, Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. scored on a 75-yard run on an end-around on the next play. Cooper had a key 40-yard catch on the Hoosiers’ first TD drive.

Fernando Mendoza, a redshirt junior, was relieved by his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, during a fourth quarter drive. Alberto, a redshirt freshman, tossed his first career TD pass, a 6-yarder to Charlie Becker. Alberto completed all three of his passes for 35 yards.

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm

Photo © The B1G Network

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

Game summary © ESPN