No. 4 Indiana made sure its non-conference work was spotless Saturday, blanking Western Kentucky 38-0 at Memorial Stadium to stay unbeaten.
The Hoosiers controlled the game on both sides and piled up a 513-186 edge in total offense, with most of the separation showing up after halftime. The first quarter came and went without a score, but Indiana finally cracked through with 9:51 left in the first half when Davion Chandler hauled in a touchdown pass.
Western Kentucky managed to hang around for a while, keeping the margin within a touchdown until Isaiah Jones intercepted quarterback Brock Glenn and the turnover set up a Lee Beebe Jr. touchdown.
After that, the Hilltoppers never found their footing again. Glenn spent much of the second half under siege, and Indiana’s pass rush made the pocket miserable with nine quarterback hurries and a sack.
When the passing game stalled, Western Kentucky needed the ground attack to steady things. It never arrived.
The Hilltoppers were held to 66 rushing yards on 29 carries, a 2.3-yard average, and managed only 16 yards on the ground in the second half. They also came up short on a 4th-and-inches try.
Indiana’s offense had the cleaner rhythm, and the run game did plenty of the heavy lifting behind Josh Hoover’s efficient afternoon. Hoover threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns, but the Hoosiers leaned hard on the ground game to keep control.
Lee Beebe Jr. scored first on the ground and later added another rushing touchdown in the third quarter, finishing with 50 yards and two scores. Turbo Richard delivered his best outing as a Hoosier, rolling up 149 rushing yards and a touchdown as the pair carried the backfield load.
That duo has become a major part of Indiana’s offensive identity, especially with Khobie Martin sidelined by injury. Beebe Jr. and Richard have filled the gap well, and they’ll matter even more as conference play begins.
The shutout was Indiana’s second straight, the first time the program has pulled that off since 1993. With the defense locked in and the offense doing enough to keep the pressure on, the Hoosiers now turn to Big Ten play.
Indiana opens conference action at Memorial Stadium on Friday at 8 p.m. against Northwestern, carrying a 19-game win streak over the last two seasons into the matchup.
In Other News...
Curt Cignetti Sends A Clear Message As Indianas Winning Streak Grows
After Indianas 38-0 win over Western Kentucky, Curt Cignetti spent much of his media session pointing back to the details that keep a streak like this alive. He highlighted a goal-line stand, the defenses steady improvement over the course of the season, and an offense that kept the pressure on by throwing effectively on first down. He also made clear that player health remains part of the equation as the Hoosiers move deeper into the schedule.
Cignettis broader message was about continuity, not celebration. Indiana is now riding a 19-game winning streak, but the coach framed it as the product of weekly preparation and attention to the little things rather than anything symbolic. With more games ahead, the challenge becomes keeping that edge while carrying the confidence that has built around a team that continues to stack wins without looking satisfied. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Sent Nick Marsh A Message Indiana Fans Noticed
Nick Marshs return to the starting lineup came with a season-best showing, and Indiana had every reason to like what it saw in the 38-0 win over Western Kentucky. The Michigan State transfer finished with seven catches for 81 yards, a productive response after being benched for the first series the previous week. He has been working with Curt Cignetti on his practice standards and his on-field discipline, two areas the staff clearly wanted to clean up as the Hoosiers settle into the season.
Cignettis handling of Marsh was noticeable to Indiana fans because it suggested a message had been delivered and received, even if the full story around the receivers role is still unfolding. For a team looking to get more consistency from its passing game, Marshs performance offered a useful sign that the correction may be taking hold, but the bigger question is whether this turns into the kind of steady, week-to-week trust the Hoosiers need from him. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Just Got Two Big Reasons To Eye Purdue
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The basketball side has had its own steady stream of news, too, with Indiana landing a commitment from 2027 recruit Felix Kiehlneker while two publications pegged the Hoosiers seventh in the Big Ten for the coming season. Put together, it is the kind of week that gives Indiana fans plenty to track, and plenty of reason to keep one eye on Purdue, whether it is about futures, projections or the next set of games that shape the rivalry picture. [Read more 🡒]