2025 Scedule

 

Here’s what year two of the Curt Cignetti era looks like:

NON CONFERENCE
Aug. 30 – Old Dominion
Sept. 6 – Kennesaw State
Sept. 13 – Indiana State

CONFERENCE
Sept. 20 – vs. Illinois
Sept. 27 – at Iowa
Oct. 11 – at Oregon
Oct. 18 – vs. Michigan State
Oct. 25 – vs. UCLA
Nov. 1 – at Maryland
Nov. 8 – at Penn State
Nov. 15 – vs. Wisconsin
Nov. 29 – at Purdue

The nonconference schedule should allow for another fast start for Cignetti and crew, and a conference home opener against Illinois provides a chance to reach 4-0.

But after playing eight home games in 2024, the Hoosiers will go on the road five times in the Big Ten next year.

The slate includes three especially challenging road trips — at Iowa, at Oregon, and at Penn State — with the former two coming back-to-back early in the season.

The Big Ten has built-in two bye weeks again next season, with IU’s off weeks coming ahead of the trip to Oregon and the Old Oaken Bucket game vs. Purdue.

2024 In Review

With the hiring of Curt Cignetti the 2024 Indiana football program has reach heights of which have never been experienced. 

During the bye week prior to the Ohio State game Indiana agreed to a contract extension with Curt Cignetti amid the Hoosiers' unprecedented 10-0 start.

Cignetti's new eight-year contract runs through the 2032 season and will pay him an average of $8 million per year with an annual $1 million retention bonus, putting the total value of the new contract at $72 million.

"I am beyond appreciative for the tremendous commitment, confidence, and support from President Pam Whitten and Athletic Director Scott Dolson," Cignetti said in a statement. 

Highlights and milestone moments in 2024 include:

Indiana's 77 - 3 victory over Western Illinois in Week 2 was the most lopsided in            school history and its 56-7 win over Nebraska six weeks later matched the school             record for margin of victory in league play until the 66-0 win over Purdue.

The Hoosiers 42-13 win over UCLA was their first ever at the Rose Bowl.

Indiana became the first bowl eligible team in the nation with a 41-24 victory at Northwestern.

They scored at least 40 points, eight times, won ten times by 14 or more points and have trailed only briefly all season.

They claim possession of both the Old Brass Spittoon and The Old Oaken Bucket with wins over rivals Michigan State and Purdue. 

The No. 5 rank in the polls In Week #13 is the highest placement in program history, 

The 66-0 victory over Purdue were the most points scored in the Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket and the first shutout since 1945 when Indiana won the Big Ten title.

Indiana's Offense Ledd the FBS in

Touchdowns scored (68) and

Passing Efficiency (179.08)

Cignetti was voted as the Big Ten and National coach of the year 

A total of eleven players were named to Big Ten honors.

A total of 21 high school freshmen were signed as part of the '24/'25 recruiting class on the first day of national signing day. 

Participating in the College Football Playoff would be a first in school history.  Ranked 8th and seeded 10th the Hoosiers traveled to South Bend to face the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on December 20th.  

The Hoosiers finished with the most wins in program history.

    

IU @ Notre Dame

 

The first-round game between Indiana and Notre Dame was the first time the two in-state schools played each other since 1991.

Quarterback Riley Leonard overcame an early interception to lead the Fighting Irish's offense. Leonard complied 231 total yards and two touchdowns against Indiana. The Notre Dame defense held the Hoosiers to 63 rushing yards.

Notre Dame improved to 12-1 with the victory, matching the program's single-season wins record (1988, 1989, 2012, 2018). Indiana finishes its season 11-2, the best mark the program has ever posted.

The game began with turnovers by each team, but star Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love opened the scoring with a 98-yard rushing touchdown. From that moment on, the Fighting Irish controlled the game, as Indiana couldn't reach the end zone in the first 58 minutes of play.

Notre Dame's running game was the star on offense as Love, Jadarian Price, Riley Leonard and Aneyas Williams combined for 34 attempts, 194 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns against one of the best rushing defenses in the country. Leonard also pitched in 201 passing yards and a passing touchdown to round out the offense.

After taking a 14-point lead into halftime, Notre Dame extended that lead to as big as 24 points in the fourth quarter.

As for Indiana, the Hoosiers, Indiana's high-scoring offense struggled for most of the night, as Notre Dame held them to just a field goal until late in the game. Indiana did score two touchdowns late in the fourth quarter, but the Fighting Irish lead was too big for those scores to matter.

Still, Indiana's season ends with a program-best 11-2 recording Curt Cignetti's first year with the team. The Hoosiers represented the biggest surprise of the season, en route to their first College Football Playoff appearance.

Kurtis Rourke scored his first touchdown, completing a 7-yard pass to Myles Price, who got into the end zone with a good effort. Rourke then completed a pass to Elijah Sarratt for the two-point conversation.  

With 1:27 left in the fourth quarter. Indiana recovered the onside kick. Indiana continued its last-minute push with a second Kurtis Rourke touchdown pass. Rourke found Omar Cooper Jr. for a 23-yard score. It was an eight-play, 50-yard drive in 59 seconds. The two-point conversation and onside kick attempt were both unsuccessful. Notre Dame took a knee to run out the final 24 seconds.

Final score: 27-17 Notre Dame. 

Sources:
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm  
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums
Game summary © ESPN and The Sporting News

College Football Playoffs

For the first time ever, Indiana is headed to the College Football Playoff. IU ranked #8 seeded number 10 will play at #7 Notre Dame in the first round on Friday December 20 at 8 pm at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend IN. The game will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

The winner of the first-round game will advance to face #2 Georgia. That game would be played on January 1 at 8:45 pm on ESPN in the Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA

Image copyright The Sporting News and Indiana University Athletics 

  

Iu v Purdue

The Hoosiers dominated the Boilers in a 66-0 victory the most points Indiana would post against Purdue in the Old Oaken Bucket Series. It would be the first Indiana shutout since 1945. 

IU would score and score often in a lopsided victory. 

This would be the Indiana school record for margin of victory in B1G Ten league play.

Indiana gained 582 yards to the Boiler's 67 with Kurtis Rourke throwing for 349 yards and six touchdowns connecting on 23 of 31 throws.

Indiana will have to wait to see where they will place and whom they will play in the College Football Playoff which will be announced later in December. 

The 11 victories for the Hoosiers in 2024 are the most in program history. 

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

2024 Bucket Game

The 2024 Bucket Game
The #126 meeting
Indiana and Purdue
For the battle of the Old Oaken Bucket 
For the #99 time!
Bring It!

IU @ Ohio State

Indiana drew first blood to go up 7-0 after which Ohio State reeled off 31 straight points to win by a final score of 38-15. Indiana held the advantage for first downs 16-14 and a slight advantage of time of possession 30:30-29:30 but in the end, it was a total dominance by the Buckeyes. 

The Buckeyes took the lead on two special-teams' mishaps by the Hoosiers. On a 4th and 15 at IU 30 with 1:41 left in the first half James Evans was forced to run for a loss of 23 yards after the ball sailed over his head in put formation. This led to a TreVeyon Henderson 4-yard touchdown followed by a Caleb Downs 79-yard Punt Return early in the third quarter. 

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