Indiana had no trouble putting Rutgers away Saturday night, rolling to a 47-15 win at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. And as usual after a victory, the program will have its offensive and defensive players of the game honored on the schedule outside Indiana’s team room.
The offensive side of the discussion starts with Turbo Richard, who came back from the injury he suffered against Northwestern and ripped through Rutgers for 204 rushing yards on 13 carries. That works out to a massive 15.7 yards per attempt.
Lee Beebe Jr. also kept the ground game humming. After helping power Indiana past Northwestern last week, he followed that up with 122 yards on 18 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per rush.
Through the air, Charlie Becker made his presence felt with 107 receiving yards on eight catches, and two of Josh Hoover’s four touchdown passes landed in his hands.
Nick Marsh put together his strongest outing yet as a pass catcher at Indiana, finishing with seven receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.
On defense, Jamari Sharpe played a big role in coverage as Rutgers had a tougher time than usual getting the ball to KJ Duff, its top wide receiver.
Stephen Daley was in the backfield all night and finished with two sacks on Saturday after earning last week’s Defensive Player of the Game honor.
Isaiah Jones kept showing up where Indiana needed him, making key plays and tying for the team lead in tackles.
Tobi Osunsanmi matched Jones at the top of the tackle chart and added a pair of tackles for loss.
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 🡒]
Curt Cignetti's Early Warning About Northwestern Looks More Real Now
Curt Cignetti had Northwestern on alert before the Hoosiers ever lined up against the Wildcats, pointing to David Brauns team as one that could make life difficult with defense, turnovers and a steady ground game. At the time, it sounded like a coach making sure his team did not look past an opponent that had already shown enough toughness to deserve attention.
Now that warning looks a lot more like an accurate scouting report. Northwestern pushed Indiana hard in Week 4, then followed it with a decisive win over Penn State in Week 5, and the Wildcats are drawing a different level of respect as a result. They are suddenly looking like a team that could be climbing into the AP Top-25 conversation, which only makes Cignettis early praise feel even more pointed in hindsight. [Read more 🡒]