IU v Akron

 

For their final non-conference game. It would be long. It would be ugly. But it would be a win.  The Hoosiers would outlast Akron 29-27 in four overtimes.

The Hoosiers’ struggles revealed several problems. Their two losses were understandable, considering Ohio State and Louisville are each 4-0. Akron, however, went 2-10 last season and was picked to finish fifth in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division. The offense must improve as the Hoosiers resume Big Ten play.

Sources:

Indiana University Athletics

https://apnews.com/hub/college-football  

https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll

IU v Louisville

Indiana spotted Louisville 21 first half points then  started the second half by recovering an onside kick. Three plays later, new starting quarterback Tayven Jackson hooked up with Jaylin Lucas on a 30-yard TD pass — the first of Jackson's college career — to make it 21-7.

A failed fourth-down try stopped Indiana’s next possession but after the Hoosiers' defense forced a three-and-out, Jackson deftly engineered a 97-yard drive, capping it with a 2-yard scoring run from Josh Henderson to cut the deficit to 21-14 with about one minute left in the third quarter.

Then, with less than five minutes to play, the Hoosiers (1-2) had fourth-and-goal from 18 inches away. Louisville linebacker Stanquan Clark stuffed Henderson in the backfield with 4:38 to play and the Cardinals ran out the clock.

The Hoosiers were missing their top cornerback, Nic Toomer, and lost starting guard Max Longman in the first half. Longman went to the locker room with what appeared to be an injured right leg. He was replaced by Matthew Bedford, the usual right guard, who was listed as questionable before the game.

Jeff Brohm improved to 5-1 all-time against Allen with the previous five meetings all coming in the Indiana-Purdue rivalry. The Cardinals also beat the Hoosiers for the first time in three tries.

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

IU v Indiana State

Tayven Jackson completed 18 of 21 passes for 236 yards and added a 10-yard touchdown run in his first career start, and Indiana racked up 558 yards of total offense Friday night in a 41-7 rout of visiting Indiana State.

Jaylin Lucas finished with 10 carries for 88 yards and four catches for 39 yards. His pair of 25-yard TD runs opened the scoring in the first quarter. Jackson’s scamper up the middle made it 21-0 at the end of the period, and the Hoosiers (1-1) were never threatened the rest of the way.

The point total was Indiana’s highest since a 56-14 defeat of Idaho on Sept. 11, 2021. The Hoosiers improved to 7-0 all time against Indiana State, an FCS program.

For a program that had gone 6-20 in its previous 26 contests, any win is a good win. A win with above-average quarterback play is even better. Given the way Jackson played, it might be his job to lose. He showed he’s capable of playing within offensive coordinator Walt Bell’s system, making big plays and affecting games with his ability to run.

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://apnews.com/hub/college-football 

IU v Ohio State

Starting against its most dreaded opponent with a new, inexperienced quarterback looked like a recipe for disaster. But a better than expected defense and a simple game plan kept the Hoosiers competitive. Despite the loss, a solid showing may give fans hope things can get better.

Indiana has not beaten the Buckeyes since posting back-to-back victories in 1987 and 1988. The teams also played to a 27-27 tie in 1990. When the Hoosiers won in Columbus, Ohio, in October 1987 then-Buckeyes coach Earle Bruce called the loss “the darkest day I’ve seen in Ohio State football since I’ve been associated with it.” Final Score Ohio State 23 - Indiana 3

UP NEXT Indiana: Hosts FCS foe Indiana State on Friday. The Sycamores are coached by Curt Mallory, the son of the late Bill Mallory, Indiana's winningest football coach.

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

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll