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

IU v Florida International

Florida International 

The Hoosiers move to 1-0 in Curt Cignetti’s first year at the helm.

The play-calling on both sides of the ball was fun to watch. Indiana’s offense has a lot to clean up but there were a lot of opportunities created by Mike Shanahan. That offers promise for the remainder of this season if that execution can get cleaned up.

The running backs (Green, Ellison and Lawton) all looked really good and the run blocking was impressive. Florida International did not have an answer.

The defense created a lot of pressure and rotated a lot of bodies in the second half. There was one extended drive allowed but this was a very strong outing by IU’s defense and the front seven overwhelmed FIU’s offensive line.

The negative of the afternoon would undoubtedly be the missed opportunities on offense. The Hoosiers had multiple chances to create big passing plays and were just a bit off on the execution. 

Overall, this was a very competent performance from the Hoosiers and a very satisfying way to begin the campaign.

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