Indiana’s 38-0 win over Western Kentucky was the kind of game that left you with more questions than a shutout usually should.
The Hoosiers are 3-0 after Saturday’s victory at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, but this one never really settled into a clean rhythm. Indiana led 14-0 at halftime, and even that cushion came with a little help from a late interception. With Big Ten play coming fast, the weirdness matters.
Josh Hoover had to do more
Through Indiana’s first two games, Josh Hoover had looked comfortable piling up touchdowns without being asked to carry too much of the load. He threw four touchdowns against both North Texas and Howard, but Western Kentucky made him work in a different way.
Hoover finished 18 of 24 for 273 yards and two touchdowns, a much busier afternoon than the first two weeks. Indiana clearly wanted to see more of him operating inside the offense, and the results were mixed.
A lot of Hoover’s completions were quick throws, the kind that put the burden on receivers to create after the catch. When he tried to push the ball into the intermediate part of the field, though, the accuracy wasn’t there. Those throws didn’t consistently put his targets in a good spot, and that’s the area Indiana still has to sort out.
Charlie Becker back on punt returns
The most notable wrinkle from the game might have been Charlie Becker lining up at punt returner.
Tyler Morris muffed a few punts last week, and Indiana turned to Becker, its top wide receiver, to handle those duties. He fielded one punt against Western Kentucky and returned it 17 yards.
There’s an obvious upside there: Becker catches the ball. But there’s also a downside that’s hard to ignore.
Indiana would probably prefer not to expose its No. 1 receiver to extra hits and extra mileage on special teams if it can help it. It’ll be worth watching what Cignetti says about that this week, because it’s a pretty interesting choice.
Turbo Richard was made for this
Turbo Richard looks like a different kind of back than what Indiana had with Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black in 2025, and the offense is treating him that way.
The Hoosiers have clearly made a point of getting him into space through three weeks. That fits. He’s at his best when he has room to move and the ball in his hands, whether that’s as a runner or on short passes.
Richard averaged 9.9 yards per carry against Western Kentucky, which is a ridiculous number, but Indiana didn’t lean on him as much as you might expect. That seemed intentional. The Hoosiers appeared to be setting up situations where Hoover had to keep drives alive through the air.
Indiana knows Richard can thrive in those spots. The bigger question, heading into conference play, is whether Hoover can deliver on the bigger throws when it really matters on third down, and even fourth.
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
Indiana football kept rolling with a 38-0 win over Western Kentucky, finishing back-to-back shutouts and giving the Hoosiers another reminder that the program is carrying real momentum. Even as that result settled in, the attention around Bloomington kept drifting toward the sport that drives so much of the local conversation, especially with the Big Ten now laying out the 2026-27 mens and womens conference schedules and setting the stage for some of the league matchups fans will circle early.
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 🡒]