Indiana wasted no time taking control at SHI Stadium and never really let go, rolling past Rutgers 47-15 in front of 48,650 fans.
The tone was set on the opening possession. After the IU defense forced a quick punt on Rutgers’ first drive, Josh Hoover led an eight-play, 85-yard march that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Becker. It was Becker’s seventh touchdown catch of the season, and Nico Radicic’s extra point made it 7-0 with 8:24 left in the first quarter.
Indiana kept building from there, and Turbo Richard helped turn field position into another score early in the second quarter. After the Hoosiers stopped Rutgers on 4th and 7 at the IU 41, Richard ripped off runs of 41 and 23 yards to get Indiana to the one-yard line.
Three plays later, Hoover hit Davion Chandler on a two-yard touchdown pass for a 16-0 lead with 9:30 remaining. Radicic missed the extra point, ending a streak of 169 straight makes.
Rutgers tried to gamble on 4th and inches from its own 34 later in the half, but Indiana stuffed Dylan Lonergan’s sneak and took over in prime territory. Three plays after that stop, Richard burst in for a 14-yard touchdown to push the lead to 22-0. Radicic converted the extra point to make it 23-0 and put the Hoosiers in complete control.
Indiana wasn’t done after halftime. On the third play of the second-half opening drive, Hoover connected with Becker for 48 yards, then found Nick Marsh on a 12-yard touchdown pass to stretch the margin to 29-0. Radicic added the extra point, and the game was effectively over at 30-0 with 12:22 left in the third quarter.
Hoover finished 20 of 27 for 251 yards and four touchdowns, and he now has 15 touchdown passes with no interceptions through five games.
Richard delivered his biggest day yet, rushing for a career-high 204 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. He averaged 15.7 yards per carry. Lee Beebe Jr., who starred last week against Northwestern, added 122 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Becker was just as dangerous through the air, finishing with eight catches for 107 yards and two scores. Marsh caught seven passes for 120 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Indiana squeezed Rutgers at every turn. The Scarlet Knights managed only 59 rushing yards, and Antwan Raymond was held to 31 yards on 2.8 yards per carry after entering the game averaging 109.5 rushing yards and 5.6 yards per carry. Rutgers finished with 254 total yards and 4.6 yards per play.
Indiana’s next stop is Lincoln, where the Hoosiers will face Nebraska at Memorial Stadium. The Cornhuskers are 5-0 after beating Maryland 48-23 on Saturday afternoon.
In Other News...
Indianas Latest AP Ranking Just Sparked A New Disrespect Debate
Indianas climb in the polls hit another familiar snag this week, with the latest Associated Press ranking slotting the Hoosiers seventh even after a 32-point win over Rutgers and a 21-game winning streak that keeps rolling along. The contrast with the Coaches Poll was hard to miss, since Indiana stayed at fifth there, and it only added to the feeling around the program that its rsum is not being treated the same way as some of the other teams clustered near the top.
Alabamas rise to sixth after a dominant win over Mississippi State only sharpened the debate, especially for a Hoosiers team that has done just about everything asked of it on the field. For Indiana, the number beside its name has become its own weekly talking point, and the gap between what the team is doing and where it is being placed is starting to feel like part of the story every time the rankings come out. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Revealed What Stood Out Behind Indianas Rutgers Win
Curt Cignetti had plenty to point to after Indianas 47-15 win over Rutgers, and the postgame conversation started with the defense. The Hoosiers were disruptive and steady on that side of the ball, giving the offense room to work while the running backs drew attention for their health status and the way the staff managed touches in the game. Cignetti also touched on special teams and the atmosphere around the matchup, making it clear this was one of those wins that revealed more than the final score.
Rutgers still made Indiana earn it for stretches, and Cignetti acknowledged both the Scarlet Knights competitiveness and what Greg Schiano has accomplished there. For Indiana, the larger takeaway was how the performance fit together across the board, from the defensive effort to the offensive approach and the way the team handled the games flow. There was enough encouragement in the result to carry forward, even with a few longer-term questions still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Left Fans One Tough Choice After Rutgers Blowout
Indianas 47-15 rout of Rutgers at SHI Stadium gave the Hoosiers plenty to celebrate, but it also left fans with a familiar postgame problem: trying to sort through a long list of standout performances and decide which ones mattered most. The offense piled up big numbers and the defense kept Rutgers from ever finding its footing, which made the teams player-of-the-game conversation more crowded than usual.
Turbo Richards 204 rushing yards put him squarely in the spotlight, while Jamari Sharpes coverage work helped define the defensive side of the win. With both units making a strong case, Indiana is leaving the final call to its fans, who get to weigh in on who deserves the game ball after one of the seasons most convincing victories. [Read more 🡒]