Yet another record

 

Indiana now owns the longest home winning streak in major college football. The Hoosiers have won fifteen home games in a row, the best in the nation.

Photos copyright Indiana University Athletics 

Wisconsin

 

This would be the last home stand for a few seniors who had made the jump to follow coach Curt Cinetti. Slightly and rarely recruited Cignetti saw their potential in himself and with them. Coming from James Madison Coach Cig brought a nucleus of players with him to Indiana with the mindset that that production beats probability.

The Hoosiers would improve to a program first 11-0 with a 31-7 victory over Wisconsin. For the game Fernando Mendoza would finish with 299 total yards completing 22 of 24 passes. His fourth touchdown pass would place him in first place with 30 touchdown passes in a single season surpassing Kurtis Rourke’s 29 in 2024.

The defense would hand the offensive the ball in excellent field position. A forced fumble by Stephen Daley, recovered by Hosea Wheeler at the Wisconsin 21-yard line, set up the Hoosiers next score. This turnover led to a 21-yard TD pass from Mendoza to Riley Nowakowski, a Wisconsin transfer, extending the Hoosier's lead.  For the season 96 points would be scored off turnovers. 

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
Game summary © ESPN 

@ Penn State

 

The Hoosiers would take on the Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium at University Park PA with a noon ET kickoff.

The Nittany Lions, who in the pre-season were ranked #2 in the country and were considered legitimate contenders for a national championship, found themselves 3-5 for the season and 0-5 in B1G play. Three games into the Big Ten season Penn State had parted ways with coach James Franklin as backers had grown impatient with his overall Big Ten performance. Franklin’s $49 million buyout would be the second largest in college football history, only behind Jimbo Fisher’s $76 million Texas A & M payout.  

The Hoosiers would enter the contest having never won at Bever Stadium in Happy Valley.

There had been close calls, but usually it had been a house of horrors. 

It all came down to a third and goal at the Penn State 7-yard line with 0:36 remaining in the game. Omar Cooper Jr. jumped to catch a pass from Fernando Mendoza in the back of the end zone, sweeping his inside foot within inches of the field of play to go ahead 27-24 to save the No 2 Hoosiers from their first loss of the season.  

“It was the most improbable victory I have ever been a part of,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said. “And there have been a better place to make it happen.”

The Hoosiers improved to 10-0 for the season and remained ranked #2 in the country. 

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

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

Photo © The B1G Network and ESPN

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

Game summary © ESPN 

@ Maryland

 

Fernando Mendoza threw for a touchdown and ran for one, and No. 2 Indiana remained undefeated with a 55-10 rout of Maryland.

Mendoza recovered from an early interception, and he also had to play most of the game without his top target. Star receiver Elijah Sarratt left in the first quarter with hamstring tightness, ending his nation-leading streak of 46 consecutive games with a catch.

Still, this was another one-sided game for the Hoosiers (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten), who since winning at Oregon have added victories over Michigan State, UCLA and Maryland by a combined 120 points.

Indiana outrushed Maryland 367-37.

Roman Hemby, who transferred from Maryland to Indiana, ran for 88 yards on 18 carries against his old team. Black rushed for 110 yards and Martin added 80.

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
Game summary © ESPN 

UCLA

 

On the second play of the game Aiden Fisher intercepted the first pass of the game and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown and the Mendoza brothers — Fernando and Alberto — each ran for scores as No. 2 Indiana routed UCLA 56-6.

The Hoosiers extended their school-record home winning streak to 14, protected the highest ranking in school history for the second straight week and now open a second straight November with a perfect record.

Fernando Mendoza was 15 of 22 for 168 yards, three TDs and one interception before leaving late in the third quarter as he was serenaded again with chants of “Heismendoza" from the student section. Roman Hemby finished with 17 carries, 81 yards and two scores while Kaelon Black rushed 10 times for 70 yards. E.J. Williams Jr. had five catches for 109 yards and two scores as Indiana outgained UCLA 475-201 in total yards.

After Fisher's interception 57 seconds into the game, the Hoosiers pulled away on Hemby's 1-yard TD run late in the first quarter and a second-quarter flurry that began with Elijah Sarratt's 1-yard TD catch, continued with Hemby's 13-yard run and ended with Williams' 2-yard TD catch to make it 35-3.

Indiana sealed it with Fernando Mendoza's nifty 20-yard scoring run, Williams' 62-yard catch and Alberto Mendoza's 4-yard run early in the fourth.

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

Game summary © ESPN 

Michigan State

 

Another rivalry between the Hoosiers and the Spartans dating back to 1950.

The day prior Curt Cignetti signed an extension to his contract for $11.2 million making him the third highest paid coach in the country. What precipitated the move was the firing of Penn State coach James Franklin who was fired after going 0-3 in the Big Ten. The extension would keep Cignetti in Bloomington for the foreseeable future.

The Hoosiers would climb to #3 nationally, the highest placement in program history and would walk away with a 38-13 Homecoming victory to reach 7-0 for the season.

Fernando Mendoza would pass for 24/28 and four touchdowns while Kealon Black would rush for 64 yards on ten carries and a score.  

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

Game summary © ESPN 

@ Oregon

 

The Hoosiers would become bowl eligible with a 30 – 20 victory over #3 Oregon. Fernando Mendoza would throw 215 yards and a key fourth-quarter touchdown to remain undefeated. 

In the 90 years since the AP poll began ranking teams weekly the Hoosiers have never beaten a top-five opponent on the road. They were 0-46 in such games, the most losses of any team in the country without a win.

With the win Indians snapped Oregon's

> 23-game regular season win streak - The longest active in FBS

> 18-game conference win streak -The 2nd longest active in FBS

> 17-game conference win streak - The 2nd longest active in FBS

> IU would rise to #3 in the AP Coaches Poll. The highest ranking 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
Game summary © ESPN 

@ Iowa

 

— Fernando Mendoza threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt with 1:28 to play to give No. 11 Indiana a 20-15 win over Iowa.

Indiana came into the game ranked second nationally in total offense and scoring offense, was held to 337 yards and its lowest scoring output of the season. But the Hoosiers got two touchdown passes from Mendoza, who threw for 233 yards, and two field goals from Nico Radicic.

Indiana took an early 7-0 lead. An interception by Amare Ferrell on the third offensive play of the game gave the Hoosiers the ball at Iowa's 24-yard line, and they quickly converted with Mendoza's 14-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr.

After Indiana stopped Iowa on its final possession, Mendoza ran off the last seconds of the game by sprinting into the end zone, where he was tackled for a safety.

:

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

Game summary © ESPN 

Illinois

 

The Illini would enter the game in the UP-Coach’s poll ranked #9 while the Hoosiers entered at #19.

Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes and D'Angelo Ponds scooped up the punt he blocked and returned it 11 yards for a score, leading  Indiana past Illinois 63-10 for its first win over a top 10 foe in five years — and easily the most lopsided.

Indiana's previous best was a 31-10 victory at then No. 9 Ohio State in 1987. It marked the first time since 1950 the Hoosiers and Fighting Illini squared off with each ranked. 

The Fighting Illini offense struggled as quarterback Luke Altmeyer was under pressure all night. Illinois allowed five sacks and rushed for only 3 yards in the first half, falling into an insurmountable 35-10 deficit. Indiana sealed the win with TD drives on each of its first two second-half possessions.

It was the worst loss of coach Bret Bielema's tenure at Illinois and the worst for the Illini since a 63-0 rout at home against Iowa in 2018.

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

Game summary © ESPN 

IU v Indiana State

The Hoosiers would host the Sycamores for a rare Friday night lights game scheduled for a 6:30 pm kickoff scoring their largest shutout win since 1901 defeating the Sycamores 73-0

For the first half, Indiana scored touchdowns on six of seven actual possessions, while getting a field goal on the other. It was pure domination in every sense of the word, just as most expected it to be. 

Fernando Mendoza saw 19 of his 20 pass attempts caught by teammates, five of which went for touchdowns. Younger brother Alberto Mendoza was also able to get a good amount of playing time, completing 6 of 9 pass attempts for another 105 yards and two Hoosiers touchdowns.

Indian led the stat sheet with 33-5 first downs while Omar Cooper Jr. led the way with 10 Receptions, 207 Yards, and 4 Touchdowns. 

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

Kennesaw State

 

The Hoosiers second home stand would be played at “The Rock” now named Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium scheduled for a noon kickoff. 

— Fernando Mendoza threw for four touchdowns to lead No. 23 Indiana to a 56-9 rout of Kennesaw State. The Hoosiers, who saw their ranking drop three spots to No. 23 following a closer-than-expected 27-14 victory over Old Dominion, should maintain their ranking with a convincing victory. Indiana didn’t commit a turnover and was penalized just three times. Indiana held a 593-271 edge in total yards.

Following a fumble recovery, Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. scored on a 75-yard run on an end-around on the next play. Cooper had a key 40-yard catch on the Hoosiers’ first TD drive.

Fernando Mendoza, a redshirt junior, was relieved by his younger brother, Alberto Mendoza, during a fourth quarter drive. Alberto, a redshirt freshman, tossed his first career TD pass, a 6-yarder to Charlie Becker. Alberto completed all three of his passes for 35 yards.

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

Game summary © ESPN 

Old Dominion

Fernando Mendoza scored on a 5-yard run in his debut as Indiana's quarterback, Jonathan Brady returned a punt 91 yards for a score, and the 20th-ranked Hoosiers wore down Old Dominion in a season-opening 27-14 victory.

Mendoza, the starter at California last season, finished 18 of 31 for 193 yards and ran six times for 34 yards. His TD run late in the first half gave the Hoosiers a 17-7 lead.

Indiana's 309-yard rushing attack was led by Maryland transfer Roman Hemby, who had 23 carries for 110 yards. Kaelon Black added 92 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Indiana won its ninth straight home game to improve to 9-0 at Memorial Stadium under second-year coach Curt Cignetti — but not without some stress.

Safety Louis Moore had an interception and a team-leading seven tackles in his first game with Indiana. But the Mississippi transfer's future with the program remains unclear. Moore is eligible for the first two games after a Texas judge granted him a two-week extension on a temporary restraining order in an eligibility case involving the NCAA. The next hearing is expected Sept. 10. The NCAA claims Moore is ineligible because he spent 2019-21 playing in junior college and the last two years at Mississippi.

The game marked the debut of Hoosier the Bison. School officials announced this summer they were bringing back the mascot that last appeared in 1969.

Earlier that day former IU coach Lee Corso made his last appearance on ESPN’s game day. From his debut in 1987 until his final episode a total of 38 years.  True to form all of Corso’s college teams he played on or coached won on Saturday. That includes Florida State, Maryland, Navy, Louisville, Indiana and Northern Illinois.  It was meant to. 

Sources:

The Helmet Project found here:

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

Photo © The B1G Network, The Indy Star 

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

Game summary © ESPN 

Looking Back

 

Before looking forward to a new season is might be interesting to look back at recall some of IU's gridiron greats. 

■ Jade Butcher, defensive back, Bloomington, Indiana
■ Harry Gonso, running back, Findlay, Ohio
■ John Isenbarger, quarterback, Muncie Central, Indiana

Historically, freshmen had been ineligible to play on Big Ten or NCAA varsity teams. For the first time, in 1966 Big Ten schools were permitted to have freshman football and basketball teams and play brief schedules: two games in football. The first for Indiana was at Ohio State. And — shock of shocks, first of the wave that was to come — IU won!

At career’s end, all three dominated the all-time IU record book. And what an acronym, Butcher-Isenbarger-Gonso. BIG.

Big as in Rose Bowl, where the team they led played — for the only time in school history — after finishing as Big Ten tri-champions at 9-1, the capper a 19-14 upset of maybe the best Purdue team ever.

Almost every Hoosier team since has exceeded the 19 on offense. No IU defense since has held teams anywhere close to a 14-point average.

And no player in IU history has made a personal sacrifice comparable to captain Doug Crusan, high on pro draft lists after two years as an outstanding offensive tackle, shedding more than 30 pounds and excelling at defensive tackle, and/or fellow senior Terry Cole, a two-year star at running back who selflessly moved to fullback and primarily a blocking role while the backfield spotlight shifted to Gonso and Isenbarger — until Pont twice caught Purdue over-conscious of the Gonso-Isenbarger option threat and broke fullback Cole wide open up the middle for long, touchdown-producing plays.

Most Influential IU Football Players by Position 

 🏈Offense 🏈

Quarterback – Antwaan Randle El
Years: 1998–2001
Why: Electrifying dual-threat QB and the first player in NCAA history to pass for 40 TDs and rush for 40 TDs.
Legacy: Went on to win a Super Bowl with the Steelers and brought national attention to IU Football. A true program icon.

Running Back – Anthony Thompson
Years: 1986–1989
Why: Two-time Big Ten MVP, 1989 Maxwell Award winner, Doak Walker Award winner, and Heisman runner-up.
Legacy: Still holds multiple IU rushing records. Statue-worthy legend in Bloomington

Wide Receiver – James Hardy
Years: 2005–2007
Why: IU’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions (36).
Legacy: Dominated the Big Ten, gave IU a dynamic deep threat it hadn’t had in years.

Tight End – Ted Bolser
Years: 2010–2013
Why: IU’s career leader in receptions, yards, and touchdowns among tight ends.
Legacy: Reliable, physical, and a leader during the Kevin Wilson rebuild.

Offensive Lineman – Dan Feeney
Years: 2012–2016
Why: Four-year starter, All-American, and key part of one of IU’s most explosive offenses.
Legacy: NFL success with the Chargers and Bears; a rock up front.

🏈 Defense 🏈

Defensive Line – Adewale Ogunleye
Years: 1996–1999
Why: IU’s all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss.
Legacy: Had a long, successful NFL career and was a feared force off the edge.

Linebacker – Tegray Scales
Years: 2014–2017
Why: Led IU in tackles, sacks, and was the heart of a tough defense under Tom Allen.
Legacy: Helped put IU back on the map defensively.

Cornerback – Tracy Porter
Years: 2004–2007
Why: Ball hawk in college, Super Bowl hero in the NFL (pick-six off Peyton Manning).
Legacy: Major impact on and off the field—one of IU’s few household names on defense.

Safety – Eric Allen
Years: 1981–1984
Why: Versatile and instinctive defensive back.
Legacy: Key part of IU’s secondary during the 80s and a longtime pro.

 🏈Special Teams 🏈

Kicker – Pete Stoyanovich
Years: 1985–1988
Why: Big leg, clutch kicker, went on to a standout NFL career.
Legacy: Helped stabilize IU’s special teams when it mattered.

Punter – Chris Sigler
Years: Early 90s
Why: Consistently pinned opponents deep; all-conference honors.
Legacy: Kept IU competitive in field-position battles.

 Overall, Most Influential Hoosier Football Player: 

Anthony Thompson (RB)

No one left a bigger mark on IU football history. He put Indiana in the national spotlight, won nearly every award a college player could win, and continues to represent the program with pride.

Source:

Bob Hammel column: John Isenbarger helped turn around Indiana football

IU Football Facebook group