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

College Football Playoff Rankings

 

The second batch of College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday provided yet more evidence of the rarefied air Indiana has entered with its program best 10-0 start.

This is the highest ranking the team has achieved since the CFP ranking began in 2014. 

The Hoosiers checked in at No.5 up three spots from the first round of No. 8 announced last week. 

While Indiana is fifth, it is currently projected to receive the No. 7 seed because it ranks ahead of a pair of projected conference champions - Miami (Florida) and BYU - that would receive automatic top 4 seeds with their conference titles. 

IU is projected to face No. 10 Alabama (7-2) in a first round-round game that would be played in Bloomington by virtue of IU being the higher seed. 

Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was Indiana's offensive coordinator in 2019. Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan held the same position at Indiana from 2020 to 2021 and Tide defensive coordinator Kank Wommack was IU defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.

Of course, all is current speculation. The season has to be played out. But for the time being the No. 5 ranking is the highest the Hoosiers have received in program history along with a perfect 10-0 record.

 Image copyright Indiana University Athletics

News copyright staff news services The Joournal Gazette 

IU c Michigan

The Wolverines (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) had their lowest scoring total in the 70m game series since Indiana’s 14-10 victory in 1987, generated one TD in three red-zone trips and came up a yard short on fourth-and-10 with 95 seconds to play.

“The story of the game is not scoring in the red zone. You can’t get down there and have it first-and-6, first-and-7 and not score,” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said.

Kurtis Rourke was 17 of 28 with 206 yards as the Hoosiers (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 8 CFP), college football’s losingest program, beat college football’s winningest program, Michigan.

Michigan had a chance to tie the score after Kalel Mullings converted a fourth-and-goal into a 1-yard scoring plunge with 9:35 left, but Warren's 2-point conversion trickled through a defender's hands and out of the end zone. 

Indiana used a 22-yard punt return to set up its final score, a 42-yard field goal, before stopping Michigan on downs.

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 

IU @ Michigan State

Indiana traveled to Michigan State looking to go 9-0 and set a new record for the best start in program history.

After posting an 87-0 first quarter advantage and never trailing in a game the Spartans drew first blood scoring on their first two drives to go ahead 10-0. The Hoosiers responded by posting forty-seven consecutive points to reclaim the Old Brass Spittoon.

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

IU v Washington

 

In front of a sell-out crowd Indiana moved to 8-0 on the season following a 31-17 win over Washington.

The Hoosiers extended their season-long streak of having never trailed in a game. For the season the Hoosiers lead opponents 87-0 in the first quarter through eight games.

Washington narrowed the gap to just 17-14 early in the third-quarter, but Indiana immediately responded with a long scoring drive and the Huskies never got closer.

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 Nebraska

Justice Ellison ran for 105 yards and two first-half touchdowns and No. 16 Indiana continued its best start in 57 years with a 56-7 rout of Nebraska on Saturday, matching the Hoosiers' most lopsided Big Ten win in program history.

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke injured his right (throwing) hand and was on the sideline in street clothes in the second half. Tayven Jackson replaced him for the rest of the game.

The Hoosiers who improved to  7-0, 4-0 Big Ten have yet to trail this season and each victory has been by double digits. The 49-point margin of victory was the biggest in conference play since a 49-0 win at Minnesota in 1945. The last time Indiana started with seven consecutive wins was 1967, when it opened 8-0.

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

ESPN

IU @ Northwestern

 

Northwestern is in the process of building a new stadium on the same site as the now demolished Ryan Field. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, on the northeast side of the campus, located next to the Walters Athletics Center, the temporary outdoor stadium will take up part of the current soccer and lacrosse field Martin Stadium and an outdoor football practice field. 

IU's quarterback Kurt Rourke led the Hoosiers to a 41-24 win at Northwestern to become the nation's first bowl-eligible team in 2024.

Rourke threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns. With a 6-00 start, Indiana became the nation's first bowl-eligible team. After a turnover on downs and a punt on Indiana's first two possessions, Rourke led the Hoosiers on seven straight scoring drives before kneeling to run out the final seconds, Indiana's first in Evanston since 1993. 

It was the first Indiana Football team to soccer six straight doble digit wins since 1896!

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 Maryland

Kurtis Rourke threw three touchdowns to help Indiana secure its best start in almost six decades with a 42-28 win over Big Ten rival Maryland on a rainy afternoon in Bloomington. 

Six different players scored touchdowns for the Hoosiers, who are now 5-0 for the first time since 1967. The Hoosiers moved to 2-0 in conference play.

Elijah Sarratt, Omar cooper Jr, and Donaven Mcculley each caught a score from Rourke, who finished 22 of 33 for 359 yards and two interceptions. Justice Ellison, Myles Price and Ty Son Lawton each added a rushing touchdown. 

The Hoosiers outgained the Terrapins 510-401 and overcame four turnovers.

In five games this season the Hoosiers have scored and never trailed. 

  Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

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

Photo © The B1G Network

Field Level Media

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

IU v Charlotte

The Hoosiers extended their record to 4-0 beating the Charolotte 49ers by a score of 52-14.

Thus far in the season it is the most scored points in the first four games in program history. and today five different running backs scored for a total of six running touchdowns.

Only four times has IU begun the season 4-0: 1987, 1990, 2015, and 2020.

The Hoosiers continue league play next Saturday when they host Maryland at Memorial Stadium. 

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

IU @ UCLA

 

Indiana would make its first appearance at the Rose Bowl sin they faced USC on January 1, 1968

Indiana scored on its opening possession for the second straight game when Miles Cross caught a 2-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone to complete a 75-yard, 12-play drive.

UCLA quickly turned it over when quarterback Ethan Garbers fumbled and Indiana defensive lineman Mikail Kamara recovered at the Bruins 17.

Two of Rourke's TD passes went to Ke’Shawn Williams. The senior transfer from Wake Forest, who had three receptions for 31 yards, gave the Hoosiers a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter when he caught a short flare from Rourke on a crossing route and went 14 yards.

Williams then caught a 2-yard pass on third-and-goal with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter to extend Indiana's lead to 28-10.

Cross had six receptions for 90 yards, including a one-handed grab for 33 yards while being covered by UCLA's Devin Kirkwood during the second quarter. On the next play, Justice Ellison had his third straight game with a touchdown when his 1-yard carry up the middle extended IU's lead to 21-0.

After UCLA's Mateen Bhaghani kicked his second field goal early in the fourth quarter, Rourke threw his fourth touchdown on the ensuing possession — a 23-yard strike to Omar Cooper Jr.

Elijah Greene then capped the scoring with a 14-yard run.

The Bruins only touchdown came in the second quarter when T.J. Harden's 1-yard run with 42 seconds remaining got them within 21-7 at halftime.

Indiana: The Hoosiers had a better result at the Rose Bowl compared to their first trip here in 1968, when they lost to Southern California 14-3 in the Granddaddy of Them All.

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

ESPN recap

IU v Western Illinois

The Hoosiers set a program single-game scoring record posting 77 points breaking the previous mark of 76 points set in a shoutout of Franklin College in 1901, on Charlie  Becker's 3-yard TD run and ensuring extra point with 9:10 to go. Coach Curt Cignetti also became the fourth Indiana coach since 1948 to win his first two games at Indiana. 

Western Illinois extended the longest losing streak in Division 1 football to 26 straight. The Leathernecks' last win came on October 30, 2021.

Indiana scored TDs on each of its first six possessions, produced 415 yards on 38 plays in the first half and led 42-3 at halftime. The Hoosiers finished with 701 total yards.  

It wasn't just Western Illinois lacking power. During warmups at halftime, both of the stadium's scoreboards faded to black. After  a short delay, the refs announced they would keep the official tome on the field. A few minutes later, the scoreboards rebooted, showing about 10 minutes left in the third quarter. 

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