Tag: Indiana Hoosiers

Sep 6, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Kurtis Rourke (9) looks to pass the ball in the second quarter against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

In Big Ten debut, UCLA out to contain Indiana’s offense

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For the first time in school history, UCLA plays a conference game in a league other than any of the iterations of the Pac-12 when it welcomes Indiana to Pasadena, Calif., in both teams’ Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday.

UCLA (1-0) has been idle since escaping its visit to Hawaii with a 16-13 win on Aug. 31. The victory made for a shaky first impression of the offense under first-year coach DeShaun Foster, with the Bruins failing to score a touchdown on four red-zone opportunities.

However, the defense limited Hawaii to 1.8 yards per rush and the Bruins racked up five sacks.

UCLA needs a similar defensive effort to slow what has been an explosive Indiana offense through its first two games.

Indiana (2-0) pays its first visit to Pasadena since playing in the 1968 Rose Bowl. The Hoosiers have never faced UCLA.

“The Rose Bowl has a lot of tradition,” Hoosiers first-year coach Curt Cignetti said. “For me and the team, it’s more of a business trip. Whether we’re playing in the Rose Bowl or a parking lot, it’s all the same.”

Indiana has yet to play on the road this season. Through two home games, the Hoosiers have been dominant.

Indiana has allowed 10 total points, steamrolling nonconference opponents FIU 31-7 and FCS counterpart Western Illinois 77-3. The 74-point deconstruction of the Leathernecks last Friday did not quite reach the program record for margin of victory, which came in a 76-0 win over Franklin College in 1901.

The Hoosiers did, however, eclipse the school record for points scored in that 1901 contest.

It was quite the initial stamp for Cignetti to put on the program. Coming from James Madison, where he oversaw a successful transition from FCS national championship contention to an 11-win finish in its second FBS campaign, Cignetti dramatically overhauled the Hoosiers’ roster.

Among the experienced Indiana players who have UCLA’s attention is quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a transfer from Ohio University. Rourke was the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and is 30-of-41 passing for 448 yards with three touchdowns this season.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers running back Ty Son Lawton (17) runs for a touchdown against Florida International Panthers defensive back Hezekiah Masses (12) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana cruises past FIU in coach Curt Cignetti’s debut

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Ty Son Lawton rushed for a pair of touchdowns as Indiana beat Florida International 31-7 in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday afternoon in the season opener for both teams.

It marked the Hoosiers’ first victory under first-year coach Curt Cignetti, who was debuting with his new team after spending the previous five seasons at James Madison. The Dukes went 52-9 with Cignetti at the helm.

Lawton went for 74 yards on 16 carries to complement an efficient performance from Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke. Rourke completed 15 of 24 passes for 180 yards and a TD.

Elijah Green finished with 82 yards and a TD on just five touches for Indiana, which outgained the Panthers 414-182.

Keyone Jenkins threw for 129 yards and a score on 20-of-29 passing as Florida International lost for the fourth time in four all-time meetings with the Hoosiers. Jenkins was picked off once.

Indiana put together a monster drive in the second quarter, eating 8:05 of clock by going 93 yards in 16 plays. Lawton punctuated the march with a 2-yard scamper to the end zone, giving the Hoosiers a 21-0 cushion.

FIU answered with its first sustained drive, finally getting on the board when Jenkins connected with Rocky Beers for a 7-yard TD with 48 seconds left in the first half.

A 35-yard field goal from Nicolas Radicic pushed Indiana’s lead to 24-7 with 5:55 to play in the third quarter.

The Panthers’ comeback hopes officially died when the Hoosiers stopped Florida International on fourth-and-19 with 5:26 left in the game.

Green closed the scoring by bursting up the middle for a 51-yard TD with 1:06 remaining.

Rourke opened the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Zach Horton with 9:14 left in the first quarter.

The Hoosiers went up 14-0 with 1:23 remaining in the frame, as Lawton rushed for a 13-yard score to cap a nine-play, 76-yard drive.

Indiana racked up 23 first downs to FIU’s 13.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; FIU Panthers quarterback Keyone Jenkins (1) looks to pass in the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

New-look Indiana aims to keep Keyone Jenkins, FIU in check

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Although Indiana is set to begin a new era when it faces Florida International on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind., first-year coach Curt Cignetti just wants to take things one game at a time.

Cignetti has the daunting task of rebuilding a Hoosiers program that went 9-27 under Tom Allen over the past three seasons. James Madison saw plenty of success under Cignetti, who coached the Dukes to a 52-9 record from 2019-23.

James Madison also made its first-ever bowl appearance with Cignetti at the helm, falling 31-21 in the 2023 Armed Forces Bowl.

While Cignetti does want to put Indiana in position to generate long-term success, the only thing he cares about right now is taking care of the Panthers.

“I don’t look at it that way,” Cignetti said when asked if Saturday’s game could be a tone-setter for the Hoosiers’ future. “This is the opponent. I’m spending every second of my day with a sense of urgency trying to help put us in the best position to be as good as we can be.”

If Indiana wants to get Cignetti his first victory with the Hoosiers right out of the gate, it will have to find a way to keep dual-threat quarterback Keyone Jenkins in check.

Jenkins is coming off a strong freshman season for FIU, throwing for 2,414 yards and 11 touchdowns to go along with 11 interceptions in 11 games. He also found the end zone six times on the ground.

“The offense, I’d say they’re feeding off my energy right now,” Jenkins said. “The more I go up, the more they go up, so I just try to keep the intensity level high. … We rolling right now, so that’s one thing I can say.”

Meanwhile, Indiana officially has not named a starting quarterback. The Hoosiers likely will turn to Kurtis Rourke, a transfer who had 2,207 yards and 11 TDs through the air at Ohio last season. Rourke was picked off five times in 2023, when he played in 11 games.

Indiana leads the all-time series with the Panthers, 3-0.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2022; Boone, North Carolina, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti walks the sideline during a game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Indiana to hire James Madison’s Curt Cignetti as coach

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Indiana is finalizing a deal to make James Madison’s Curt Cignetti the school’s next coach, multiple media outlets reported on Thursday.

Cignetti, 62, was named the Sun Belt coach of the Year on Thursday after guiding the Dukes to an 11-1 record in their second season at the FBS level.

He will replace Tom Allen, who was fired on Sunday after posting a 33-49 record over seven seasons as coach of the Hoosiers. Indiana had dropped a 35-31 decision to Purdue the previous day to finish the campaign with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-8 mark in the Big Ten.

Cignetti owns a 52-9 record and 31-4 mark in conference play at JMU between the Sun Belt and Colonial Athletic Association. He reached the 2019 FCS national championship game and the FCS semifinals in both 2020 and 2021.

His father, Frank, was a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Tom Allen reacts during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Indiana fires Tom Allen, owes coach $20.8M

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Indiana fired head coach Tom Allen after seven seasons, multiple media outlets reported on Sunday morning.

The reported move comes one day after the Hoosiers dropped a 35-31 decision to Purdue. Indiana finished the season with a 3-9 overall record and 1-8 mark in the Big Ten.

Under Allen, Indiana was 3-24 in Big Ten games since the Hoosiers went to bowl games in 2019 and 2020.

Allen, 53, posted a 33-49 overall record and 18-43 mark in Big Ten play.

His high-water marks came after posting an 8-5 record in 2019 and a 6-2 mark during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Indiana rewarded Allen in March 2021 with a seven-year contract that increased his salary to $4.9 million annually and included a buyout of $20.8 million if the university elected to fire him prior to Dec. 1, 2023.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Cam Allen (10) intercepts a pass intended for Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Andison Coby (0) during the first half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Purdue stays resilient, gets past Indiana 35-31

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Hudson Card went 21-of-34 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns to lead Purdue to a 35-31 home win over Indiana on Saturday.

Card also rushed for 85 yards on 12 carries with another TD to help Purdue (4-8, 3-6) win the Old Oaken Bucket for the fifth time in the last six years.

Brendan Sorsby went 17 of 31 for 226 yards, three TDs and three interceptions for Indiana (3-9, 1-8).

Trailing for all but a 12-second stretch in the game, Purdue went on top for good with 2:39 remaining when Card scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Boilermakers a 35-31 advantage.

Indiana drove to the Purdue 35-yard line but was stopped on downs with 1:17 remaining and the Boilermakers were able to run out the clock.

Trailing 28-18 going into the fourth quarter, Purdue cut the deficit to 28-25 with 14:53 remaining on a 38-yard touchdown pass from Card to Devin Mockobee.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Purdue took a 15-14 lead with 13:14 to go in the third after a 33-yard field goal by Ben Freehill.

But Indiana had an immediate answer when Jaylin Lucas returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to give the Hoosiers a 21-15 lead.

Following a 44-yard field goal by Freehill that cut Indiana’s lead to 21-18 with 10:37 left in the third. Indiana then took a 28-18 lead on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to Josh Henderson with 1:43 left in the third quarter.

Indiana took a 7-0 lead with 34 seconds remaining in the first quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Brendan Sorsby to DeQuece Carter.

Purdue cut the Indiana lead to 7-6 with 12:07 left in the second quarter on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Card to George Burhenn. The extra point failed.

With 8:59 left in the second quarter, the Hoosiers took a 14-6 lead on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to Donaven McCulley.

Purdue then made it 14-12 with 12 seconds to go in the first half after a 16-yard touchdown pass from Card to Drew Biber. The 2-point conversion failed.

–Field Level Media

Nov 11, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Reggie Love III (23) eludes the tackle of Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (20) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois holds off Indiana in overtime

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John Paddock threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Williams in overtime to give Illinois a 48-45 win over Indiana in a Big Ten crossover on Saturday.

With Illinois facing third-and-6, Paddock scrambled from pressure to his right and hit a wide-open Williams for the game-winning score.

Paddock finished 24-of-36 passing for 507 yards and four touchdowns for Illinois (5-5, 3-4 Big Ten).

Brendan Sorsby went 22 of 33 for three touchdowns in defeat for Indiana (3-7, 1-6).

Indiana got the ball first in overtime and took a 45-42 lead on Chris Freeman’s 41-yard field goal.

Indiana had trailed 42-34 in regulation but tied the game at 42 with 28 seconds left on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Sorsby to DeQuece Carter and a subsequent two-point pass from Sorsby to E.J. Williams.

Trailing 27-26, Illinois took a 33-27 lead with 5:18 left in the third quarter on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Paddock to Isaiah Williams.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Reggie Love scored on a 37-yard touchdown run to give the Fighting Illini a 39-27 lead as the conversion attempt failed.

Indiana responded, cutting the Illinois lead to 39-34 with 12:25 left on Sorsby’s 5-yard touchdown run.

Illinois then took a 42-34 lead with 5:04 remaining on Caleb Griffin’s 21-yard field goal.

The first half was full of offense, with the teams combining for 53 points.

Indiana scored two straight touchdowns to take a 27-12 lead.

Donaven McCulley caught his second 6-yard touchdown pass of the game from Sorsby with 8:22 left in the second quarter, and then Sorsby scored on an 18-yard touchdown run with 5:44 to go until halftime.

Illinois answered with back-to-back touchdowns, first cutting Indiana’s lead to 27-19 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Paddock to Casey Washington with 3:05 remaining in the second quarter.

Paddock hit Pat Bryant on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds remaining in the second.

–Field Level Media

Nov 4, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana's Brendan Sorsby (15) scores a touchdown during the first half against Wisconsin at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Janzaruk-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana ends skid with victory over Wisconsin

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Brendan Sorsby threw for one touchdown and rushed for another, and host Indiana held on for a 20-14 win over Wisconsin on Saturday afternoon in Bloomington, Ind.

Sorsby completed 19 of 31 passes for 186 yards and a score for Indiana (3-6, 1-5), which snapped a four-game losing streak. Donaven McCulley had five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Braedyn Locke completed 21 of 41 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns for Wisconsin (5-4, 3-3). Bryson Green and Will Pauling had one touchdown reception apiece.

Indiana knocked off Wisconsin for the second time in a row, including a victory in the previous meeting in 2020. The Badgers lead the all-time series 41-20-2.

The Badgers got the ball at their own 25-yard line with 1:10 remaining and down by six points. Locke completed one first-down pass in the series but Wisconsin fumbled the ball on a desperation play as time expired.

Indiana opened the scoring with a touchdown on its first possession. Sorsby decided to keep the ball on an option play and scored on an 8-yard run.

The Hoosiers increased their lead to 10-0 on a 27-yard field goal by Chris Freeman midway through the second quarter.

Wisconsin pulled within 10-7 with 4:11 to go in the second quarter. Locke zipped a short pass across the middle to Green, who weaved through defenders and found green space down the left sideline as he raced for a 54-yard touchdown.

Indiana responded on the next possession to grab a 17-7 lead at the half. McCulley made a spectacular, one-handed catch along the left side of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.

The Badgers cut the deficit to 17-14 on their first drive of the second half. Pauling hauled in an 18-yard pass for his team-high third receiving touchdown of the season.

A 50-yard field goal by Freeman increased Indiana’s advantage to 20-14 with 1:10 to play.

–Field Level Media

Oct 28, 2023; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin walks on the field during warmups before the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports

No. 10 Penn State holds off upset-minded Indiana

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Drew Allar connected with KeAndre Lambert-Smith for a go-ahead, 57-yard touchdown with 1:46 remaining to lift No. 10 Penn State to a 33-24 victory over Indiana on Saturday afternoon in State College, Pa.

The Nittany Lions (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) saw a 10-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter when the Hoosiers’ Brendan Sorsby threw a 26-yard scoring strike to Omar Cooper Jr. and Chris Freeman made a 35-yard field goal to tie the game 24-24 with 2:58 remaining.

But Allar saved the day, and Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton then strip-sacked Sorsby at his own 25 and watched as the ball bounce all the way out of the back of the end zone for a safety that sealed the victory.

Allar completed 20 of 31 passes for 210 yards, three TDs and his first collegiate interception for the Nittany Lions, who avoided losing back-to-back regular-season games for the first time since Oct. 23, 2021.

Lambert-Smith finished with six catches for 96 yards and the decisive score, while Kaytron Allen led the rushing attack with 81 yards on 18 carries.

Sorsby threw for 269 yards, three touchdowns and a pick on 13-for-19 passing for Indiana (2-6, 0-5), which lost its fourth straight game.

DeQuece Carter had three receptions for 104 yards and a TD for the Hoosiers.

Momentum shifted in the Nittany Lions’ favor late in the second half when Nicholas Singleton ran to the end zone from 2 yards out to tie the score 14-14 with 2:15 remaining until halftime.

Jaylen Reed then picked off Sorsby and, seven plays later, Alex Felkins drilled a 50-yard field goal to allow Penn State to take a 17-14 edge into the break.

The Nittany Lions opened a 10-point lead at 24-14 thanks to Allar’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Theo Johnson with 8:39 left in the third quarter.

After the first four drives of the game ended with punts, Sorsby opened the scoring emphatically, connecting with Carter for a 90-yard touchdown.

Penn State went three-and-out on its ensuing drive but recovered a muffed punt, turning that takeaway into Allar’s 9-yard scoring strike to Khalil Dinkins that knotted things at 7-7.

But the Nittany Lions’ secondary broke down again shortly after, as Sorsby found Donaven McCulley for a 69-yard TD with 13:26 left in the second quarter to reestablish a seven-point edge.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa (3) looks to throw as the action reflects off his visor during the first half against the Towson Tigers at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana hoping to find cracks in Maryland’s defense

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Unbeaten Maryland’s stingy defense looks to stifle Indiana’s sputtering offense in a Big Ten matchup on Saturday in College Park, Md.

The Terrapins (4-0, 1-0) forced five turnovers in their first road game of the season last Saturday at Michigan State to secure a 31-9 win, their sixth straight victory dating back to last season.

After tallying four takeaways in the fourth quarter of its 42-14 win over Virginia on Sept. 15, Maryland immediately wreaked havoc against the Spartans. The Terps notched takeaways on Michigan State’s first three possessions to spring ahead 21-3 by halftime, and snagged two more interceptions in the second half.

“Anytime you can win on the road in the Big Ten, that’s huge,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “For us to come up here and do something that hasn’t been done since 1950, which is to win here in this stadium, I’m definitely proud of the team.”

Locksley’s defense has been vital to Maryland’s second 4-0 start in the three seasons.

The Terps have forced 11 turnovers, tied for the second most in the NCAA. Their defense surrenders 12.3 points per game, good for 11th-fewest in the nation.

Maryland’s stinginess presents the Hoosiers (2-2, 0-1) with a hefty challenge in their first road test this season.

Indiana’s offense has struggled the year. Its 282-yard output in the Hoosiers’ 29-27 four-overtime win over Akron last Saturday elicited more frustration than celebration.

“The offense was out of sync and performed poorly,” coach Tom Allen said. “It was not good enough. Not even close. It was below the standard.

“There’s not a lot to be fired up about that side of the ball.”

Tayven Jackson completed just 11 of his 26 pass attempts for 190 yards and paired a touchdown pass with an interception. Meanwhile, Indiana’s ground game needed 34 carries to churn out 92 rushing yards.

The Hoosiers are scoring 21.8 points per game, tied for 103rd in the nation.

–Field Level Media