IU @ Cincinnati

A disastrous second quarter doomed the Hoosiers 54-24

Cincinnati quarterback Ben Bryant floated a pass to Tyler Scott in stride for a 32-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the second quarter. On the first play of Indian's next drive, quarterback Conner Bazelak stepped up in the pocket, but he was hit from behind and fumbled the ball. Dominique Perry scooped the ball off the turf and broke free for a 14-yard touchdown return. 

Two touchdowns in the final minute of the first half gave Cincinnati a 28-point lead going into halftime and provided the knockout punch. Cincinnati defeated Indiana 45-24 at Nippert Stadium, giving the Hoosiers their first loss of the year. 

Indiana scored just six points in the first quarter off its first three games, and the same early struggles continued with three first-quarter points. Against Illinois and Western Kentucky, Indiana's late-game magic was enough to erase early struggles, but a team like Cincinnati - a College Football Playoff team last season - won't let that happen.   

Sources:
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photos © The B1G Network, Indiana University Athletics
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

Jack Annkony is a Sports Illustrated/Fan Nation writer for HoosieersNow.com He graduated from Indiana University Media School with a degree in journalism. 

B-town IU nation

IU v Western Kentucky

 

It took everything IU could muster - a 17 point fourth quarter a late goal-line stand, a missed field goal by Western Kentucky as time expired and a blocked field goal in overtime just to set up Charles Campbell 51 yard field goal in overtime to give the Hoosiers a 33-30 victory over Western Kentucky.

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

https://espn.com/college-football recap/-/gameld/401426563 

IU v Idaho

Indiana scored 29 consecutive points, including 23 in the third quarter, to rebound from a sluggish start in a 35-22 victory over FCS-member Idaho on a rainy Saturday night.

The game was delayed 35 minutes by a lightning warning, and the Hoosiers didn't show up at the outset against the three-touchdown underdog Vandals, who led 10-0 at halftime.

At least the Hoosiers didn't wait until the final minute to prevail, as was the case in an opening home win over Illinois. Whatever the reason for the lousy opening half against a team Indiana dominated 56-14 on the same field last year, the Hoosiers finally rebounded. The last time Indiana scored 35 points in a half was against Idaho last year, although those were before halftime.

Sources:
The Helmet Project found here:
http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/index.htm
Photos © The B1G Network, Indiana University Athletics
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1145292-power-ranking-all-124-college-football-stadiums

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401405075 

IU v Illinois

Connor Bazelak wanted a fresh start at Indiana. He couldn't have made a stronger first impression.

The Hoosiers new starting quarterback threw one touchdown pass then finished the game by leading his team on a 75-yard drive, capped by Shaun Shivers's 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left to give Indiana a stunning 23-20 victory over Illinois.

Linebacker Cam Jones challenged his teammates during the offseason and again Friday and the defense responded. If the Hoosiers continue to play this tenaciously, they'll be competitive every week. The bigger question: Can the offense find its way consistently?

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

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