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

IU v Michigan

The Wolverines (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten) had their lowest scoring total in the 70-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 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 Michigan State

Katin Houser hooked up with Maliq Carr on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left Saturday to rally Michigan State for a 24-21 victory.

The Spartans  reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon by winning their first road game of the season and their second under interim coach Harlon Barnett. It took an eight-play, 75-yard drive and Carr's tackle-breaking catch-and-run to win it.

Indiana  had a chance to force overtime but Brendan Sorsby drew an intentional grounding call when he had a miscommunication with his receiver. The penalty moved the ball back 6 yards and Chris Freeman missed a 49-yard kick that would have tied it with 2 seconds to play.

The Hoosiers have at least been competitive each of the past four weeks, but they've come away with three losses. And this one really hurts because the Hoosiers blew chances to win it and force overtime in the final five minutes.

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 vWisconsin

Second-year quarterback Brendan Sorsby ran for one score, threw for another and led the Hoosiers to a long field goal on their final possession  to snap a six-game conference losing streak with a 20-14 victory.

Indiana won this offensive quagmire despite gaining only 36 yards and scoring just three points in the second half, courtesy of Chris Freeman's 50-yard field goal with 70 seconds to go.

Sorsby was 19 of 31 with 186 yards and squirted free for an 8-yard TD run for the game's first points. Former quarterback Donaven McCulley had five receptions for 67 yards including a spectacular one-handed, 7-yard TD grab late in the first half to give Indiana a 17-7 lead. Those were all the points the Hoosiers needed.

Aaron Casey had nine tackles, seven solos, four for loss with two sacks and a forced fumble. He also received a game ball. ... Indiana had nine pass breakups.

The Hoosiers honored three-time national championship coach Bob Knight with a moment of silence about 20 minutes before kickoff. Football players also wore an “RMK” helmet decal with three stars, one for each of Robert Montgomery Knight's national titles. Knight died Wednesday at age 83.

 

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 @ Penn State

The #10 ranked Penn State  offense finally found a way to be explosive when it mattered most. Drew Allar threw three touchdown passes, including a 57-yarder to KeAndre Lambert-Smith with 1:46 to play, and No. 10 Penn State’s defense forced a late safety to beat Indiana 33-24.

Indiana capitalized with two long touchdown passes to take a 14-7 lead.

The Hoosiers opened the scoring when wideout DeQuece Carter slipped past Penn State’s secondary and Sorsby found him for a 90-yard score. Two possessions later, Indiana’s Donaven McCulley was left uncovered by a blitzing defense and race unchallenged for a 69-yard touchdown.

Penn State took control in the second quarter after Singleton scored on a 2-yard run and Jaylen Reed intercepted Sorsby at midfield.  

The Hoosiers played their best game in a long time. They entered with the worst statistical run defense in the Big Ten and held Singleton and Kaytron Allen in check for the most part.

Costly mistakes in all three fazes  led to the Hoosiers' demise. 

A muffed punt led to a touchdown, (special teams)

An avoidable interception led to a field goal. (offense)

A blown coverage in the final minuets led to the winning touchdown. (defense)

They’ll need to win their next four to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2020.

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

The Associated Press

IU v Rutgers

Gavin Wimsatt ran for three touchdowns and 143 yards as Rutgers became bowl eligible with a 31-14 road victory over Indiana.

The Scarlet Knights (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) equaled their best start since 2012 and tied a program record for conference wins.  

Indiana drove to an opening touchdown as Brendan Sorsby threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr., but Rutgers responded with two touchdowns. Shaquan Loyal came off the edge to block a punt and Eric Rogers scooped and scored from 17 yards out in the second quarter to make it 14-7.

The Hoosiers tied the game on a Sorsby 4-yard run and appeared to be headed to halftime tied but returner Jaylin Lucas, the reigning Big Ten’s Specialist of the Year, muffed a punt and Rutgers recovered at Indiana’s 25 with 28 seconds remaining. The turnover led to a Rutgers field goal for a 17-14 halftime lead.

Humbled by three losses to ranked teams as well as to then-unbeaten Maryland, the Hoosiers were unable to turn a losing season around despite taking an early lead. Pressure is mounting on Allen, who received a seven-year extension in 2021. The home crowd booed after the Hoosiers ran unsuccessfully on a third-and-7 play in the second quarter, settling for a punt. It would take $20 million to buy out the remainder of Allen’s contract.

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 @ Michigan

J.J. McCarthy threw a tiebreaking, 2-yard touchdown pass to Roman Wilson late in the first half and No. 2 Michigan pulled away to pummel Indiana 52-7.

Indiana (2-4, 0-3) took a 7-0 late late in the first quarter when Brendan Sorsby threw a lateral out wide to Donaven McCulley and the receiver heaved a 44-yard pass to Jaylin Lucas, who was wide open against a defense that was fooled by the trick play.

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 @ Maryland

Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 352 yards and accounted for all six Maryland touchdowns, leading the Terrapins to a 44-17 rout of Indiana and their first 5-0 start since 2001.

Tai Felton caught seven passes for 134 yards and three first-half TDs for the Terrapins, who are 2-0 in Big Ten play for the first time since joining the league before the 2014 season. Now they face their first big test of the season when they play at No. 4 Ohio State next weekend.

Tagovailoa's five touchdown passes were one shy of the school record, set by Frank Reich in his famous comeback victory over Miami in 1984.

The Hoosiers enjoyed a significant edge in time of possession, but that was mostly because Maryland scored so easily. Sorsby and Jackson are both redshirt freshmen, so it will be interesting to see who Indiana goes with in its next game.

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

IU v Purdue

Dexter Williams II went down with 46 seconds left in the first quarter as he planted his leg to look downfield. When he turned, he, fell immediately fell to the ground with nobody near him.

Teammates gathered round and some Purdue players took a knee as doctors put an air cast on the leg and strapped Williams to a stretcher. He eventually went to a nearby hospital for further evaluation. The redshirt sophomore from Macon, Georgia, was making his second straight start.

Conner Bazelak replaced Williams following the injury and wound up 24 of 42 with 201 yards, one interception and one score. ... Jaylin Lucas had nine carries for 100 yards including a 71-yard TD run on Indiana's second play.

Aidan O'Connell a sixth-year quarterback threw for 290 yards and two scores, Devin Mockobee ran for 99 yards and another touchdown and the Boilermakers dominated rival Indiana 30-16, to clinch their first Big Ten West Division title and a date in next week's conference championship game.

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://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401405151 

IU @ Michigan State

Shaun Shivers ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns, including a 1-yarder in double overtime, to lift Indiana to a 39-31 come-from-behind victory over Michigan State.

Indiana's James Head Jr. blocked Ben Patton's 28-yard field goal in overtime and Michigan State's Michael Fletcher blocked Charles Campbell's 37-yard kick to send the game to double overtime.

After Dexter Williams threw a 24-yard pass to AJ Barner to start the second overtime, Shivers ran for the game-winner. Williams threw a two-point conversion pass to Barner to give the Hoosiers an eight-point cushion. It was Williams' first start as a Hoosier. 

The Hoosiers snapped a 38 game loosing streak dating back to 2003  when they failed to win after being down 1 points or more entering the second half. 

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://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401405146

IU @ Ohio State

Miyan Williams rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown before leaving with an injury late in the first half, C.J Stroud threw five TD passes and No. 2 Ohio State buried Indiana 56-14.

Indiana's starting quarterback Connor Bazelak, who returned after sitting out last week's loss to Penn State with an injury, didn't last long. After the Hoosiers went three-and-out on their first three possessions, Bazelak was benched in favor of Dexter Williams II, who threw for two touchdowns, their only scores of the day.

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://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401405139

IU v Penn State

Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton gave No. 16 Penn State a knockout ground game. The combination was too much for Indiana.

Allen ran for 86 yards and a season-high three scores, Singleton added 73 yards rushing and another touchdown and the two freshmen helped the Nittany Lions rout the Hoosiers 45-14.

The Hoosiers once-promising season has gone almost completely gone off the rails. Despite firing his offensive line coach and changing quarterbacks, coach Tom Allen's team has not responded and now they may have to use an unproven starter against No. 2 Ohio State.

The Hoosiers ran 31 plays in the first half and 15 went for zero yards or negative yards. ... Indiana had minus-6 yards rushing in the first two quarters. ... The Hoosiers gave up 483 total yards and generated just 196 and the defense was on the field for nearly 36 minutes.

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://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401405132