First-year Indiana Hoosiers head football coach Curt Cignetti promised he could turn the losing Indiana football program around. Nobody believed he could do it so quickly.
The Indiana Hoosiers could be the biggest surprise in college football this season. With a 41-24 win against a Northwestern team that battled all day, the 6-0 Indiana Hoosiers are the first team to earn bowl eligibility. With a perfect 3-0 record in conference play, Indiana leads the Big Ten. They also climbed up to number 18 in this week’s AP poll.
The Hoosiers’ high-flying offense stalled early as Northwestern forced a turnover on downs and a punt on Indiana’s first two possessions. After that, the Wildcat defense had few answers as the Indiana offense scored on their next seven possessions.
Justice Ellison started the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 89-yard drive. The Hoosiers led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter. Miles Cross made a magnificent catch in the end zone on fourth and goal for Indiana’s next touchdown. Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke fired a high pass that looked like it would sail over his head, but Cross snatched it and tapped his toes in the end zone before falling to the ground. Indiana led 17-10 at the half.
A week of rest did wonders for the Northwestern offense. Two weeks ago, they were inept in a 24-5 loss against Washington. On Saturday, Wildcat quarterback Jack Laush used his arm and legs to guide the Northwestern offense to a strong performance against the Hoosiers strong defense. Lausch threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
Despite the 17-point margin of victory, this game was closer than expected well into the fourth quarter. While the Indiana Hoosiers never trailed, they clung to a narrow 27-24 lead until they scored the game’s final two touchdowns in the final six minutes to lock up the victory.
The Hoosiers racked up more than 40 points for the fifth straight game. With an average of 47.5 points per game, Indiana ranks third in scoring offense – trailing only Boise State (50.6) and Miami (47.7). The talented Indiana Hoosiers are particularly good in the red zone. In 37 red zone attempts this season, Indiana has scored 34 times – including 30 touchdowns. Thanks to impressive numbers like those, ESPN ranks the Indiana Hoosiers first in the nation in offensive efficiency.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke – “the Maple Missile” – continues to shine. Rourke threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns on the day. His third 300+ yard passing day in the last four games. Rourke ranks fifth in the nation with 1,752 passing yards and fourth in passing efficiency.
The Hoosiers are strong on both sides of the ball. The Hoosiers rank fifth nationally in total offense, averaging 516 yards per game. The Indiana defense ranks seventh, giving up only 256 yards per game. The Hoosiers have zero turnovers in five of their six wins. Put it all together, Indiana has won every game by double digits.
While the Hoosiers have already clinched a bowl berth, Coach Cignetti and his team have bigger aspirations. ESPN’s College Football Power Index ranks Indiana 14th and predicts they’ll finish the season with a 10-2 record. The Allstate College Football Playoff predictor gives the Hoosiers the ninth-highest probability to reach the playoff with a 52% chance.
The Hoosiers will enjoy a week of rest before Nebraska visits Bloomington for a crucial Big Ten matchup. The schedule gets tougher with upcoming games against Michigan and Ohio State. Hoosier fans are excited to see if their team is up to the task.
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