Indiana wasted no time making a statement on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Howard 55-0 to move to 2-0 and turning the game into a runaway before the fourth quarter was even truly a fourth quarter. The matchup got so out of hand that both head coaches agreed to play only 10 minutes in the final period.
The Hoosiers got exactly what they needed from the kind of lopsided win that still reveals a few things. The biggest takeaway? Charlie Becker is looking like a star.
Becker scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and a half, and he’s now up to five touchdowns through Indiana’s first two games. He finished with three touchdown catches for 81 yards, giving him 7 receptions for 145 yards and those 5 scores on the season. Even with limited snaps after his early burst, Becker has put himself in the conversation with the nation’s top receivers, right there with Jeremiah Smith, Malachi Toney, and Cam Coleman.
The ground game also held up just fine without Khobie Martin. Lee Beebe Jr. carried the load with a team-high 117 yards on 16 carries, a sharp jump after he averaged just 2.9 yards per rush last week.
Turbo Richard added another big punch, finishing with 108 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. As a team, Indiana piled up 301 rushing yards on 46 attempts, good for 6.5 yards per carry.
The tests will get tougher, but this was the kind of performance that should leave Hoosier fans feeling good about the depth and shape of the run game.
On the other side of the ball, Indiana looked much more like the defense that Bryant Haines wants on the field. After a season opener that included some underwhelming moments, the Hoosiers snapped back into dominant form against Howard.
They gave up just 57 total yards and four first downs, while Howard managed only 13 yards on 27 rushes. Indiana also got after the quarterback with five sacks after recording just one in Week 1, and Rolijah Hardy added the exclamation point with a pick-six.
There wasn’t much to nit-pick in a blowout like this, but the kicking situation did raise one small question. With Nico Radicic out, Paddy McAteer handled placekicking duties and missed his first extra point attempt before settling in and going 7-for-7 the rest of the way.
He did not attempt a field goal. Cignetti said Radicic is dealing with a back issue, though he did not offer a timeline for his return.
That’s the one item worth watching after an otherwise spotless afternoon.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Kicker Question It Didnt Expect
Indianas kicking situation took an unexpected turn against Howard when Nico Radicic was ruled out because of back pain that started Thursday, according to the broadcast. With the Hoosiers suddenly needing a replacement, Paddy McAteer stepped into the role and handled the extra-point duties in his place.
McAteers night had a little of everything, missing an early PAT before later settling in and converting one. For Indiana, the bigger issue now is less about a single kick than how long it might have to manage without Radicic, with no clear return timeline yet available. [Read more 🡒]
Lee Corso Update Will Hit Florida State Fans Right In The Heart
Lee Corsos public appearances have become rare since he retired after the 2025 season, but a recent reunion with Kirk Herbstreit in Orlando offered a familiar reminder of why he remains such a beloved figure in college football. Herbstreit described the physical ailments Corso is dealing with at 91, while also emphasizing that the longtime College GameDay analyst is still sharp and fully engaged when the conversation turns to the sport he helped shape.
For Florida State fans, any Corso update carries its own weight, given how closely his voice has been tied to the broader history of college football Saturdays. Even after the final headgear pick in Columbus closed the book on his on-air run, Corsos presence still resonates, especially because he continues to stay mentally connected to the game despite a past stroke and the challenges that have limited his outings. [Read more 🡒]
Charlie Becker Is Becoming A Huge Factor In Indianas Title Push
Charlie Becker has quickly moved from promising receiver to one of the early reasons Indianas offense looks so dangerous again. The junior has opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion, finding the end zone multiple times in the first two games and giving the Hoosiers another reliable weapon as they chase a second straight Big Ten title.
Against Howard, Becker did most of his damage before halftime, catching three touchdown passes in the first half and putting his name squarely in the middle of Indianas title conversation. For a team trying to defend its place atop the league, having another playmaker emerging this fast only raises the ceiling, and it is starting to look like Becker will be hard to ignore as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]