No. 6 Indiana wasted no time setting the tone in its season opener, jumping on North Texas early and never letting go in a 52-16 win Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers were in front almost immediately. Redshirt senior running back Lee Beebe Jr. delivered a 67-yard return on the opening kickoff, and three plays later redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover opened his Cream and Crimson career by finding junior wide receiver Nick Marsh with one hand for a 15-yard touchdown.
North Texas tried to settle in on its first drive, piecing together a steady march with short gains. But once the Mean Green crossed into Indiana territory, the Hoosiers shut it down. Junior linebacker Rolijah Hardy and redshirt senior linebacker Isaiah Jones broke up passes from redshirt senior quarterback Tayven Jackson, and North Texas came away empty on fourth down.
Indiana’s next series had its own drama. Beebe ripped off what would have been a 43-yard touchdown run, only for a hold by redshirt senior center Bray Lynch to wipe it away.
The Hoosiers didn’t blink. On the next snap, Hoover hit junior running back Turbo Richard in the flat, and Richard turned it into a 38-yard catch-and-run that set up the offense in the red zone.
Beebe converted on fourth and short, then Richard finished the job with a touchdown run to make it 14-0.
North Texas answered with a nine-play drive that ended in a 47-yard field goal, but Indiana pushed right back in less than three minutes. After a facemask penalty left Hoover bloodied, he still delivered, threading a touchdown to junior wide receiver Charlie Becker between two defenders.
The Mean Green added another field goal before halftime, but Indiana carried a 24-6 lead into the break.
North Texas came out of the locker room with its best burst of the night, covering 75 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Senior running back Jahiem White and senior wide receiver Corri Milliner supplied the chunk gains on the march.
Indiana responded the same way it had all afternoon: fast and clean. On third and long, Hoover escaped pressure and found redshirt freshman tight end Brock Schott for 25 yards.
One play later, he dropped a 35-yard touchdown to Becker for the pair’s second scoring connection of the day. That 61-yard drive took under two minutes and pushed the lead to 31-13.
North Texas managed another field goal after an improbable third-and-23 conversion from Jackson, but Indiana answered again, this time on a 42-yard play-action touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Davion Chandler.
By then, Hoover had spread the ball all over the field. Chandler became the seventh Hoosier to record a catch and the third to score a touchdown.
Indiana’s defense kept the pressure on after that, forcing a three-and-out. Redshirt senior wide receiver Tyler Morris then returned the punt 36 yards, and after nine straight runs, Richard punched in another score for the Hoosiers.
A late interception by junior cornerback Quan Sanks and a 43-yard run from seventh-year senior quarterback Grant Wilson put the finishing touches on the 52-16 result.
Hoover finished 13-for-16 for 231 yards and four passing touchdowns. Becker led Indiana with four catches for 64 yards and two scores. The Hoosiers had trouble on the ground, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry between Beebe and Richard, and despite the lopsided final score, North Texas actually outgained Indiana by two yards.
Indiana returns to action against Howard University at noon Sept. 12 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
In Other News...
Indiana Backfield Suddenly Faces An Early Concern Fans Didn't Expect
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Martin never got a carry before exiting, which only adds to the concern because Indiana was looking for early signs of how its rotation would come together. When a projected contributor is forced out that quickly, it puts immediate pressure on the rest of the depth chart and leaves the Hoosiers waiting for a clearer update on how long they may have to manage without him. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Cornerback Battle Just Took A Brutal Week 1 Turn
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The timing only adds to the concern for Indiana, which had already seen Harris miss part of fall camp with a knee issue. He was later spotted limping after leaving the game, leaving the Hoosiers with an early test in a position battle that suddenly looks a lot more precarious than it did a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
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For Indiana, the timing makes this more than a routine stop on the recruiting trail. Wabbingtons visit gives the Hoosiers a real chance to sell both their vision and their fit in the paint, even as other major programs continue to push for his attention. In a crowded race for an elite center, simply getting him on campus is a meaningful step, and one Indiana will be eager to turn into more. [Read more 🡒]