The transition of Indiana University football from perennial doormat to the third-ranked team in the country has been nothing less than astounding. How one man, coach Curt Cignetti, transfer players from James Madison University and numerous other schools, plus the recruiting of freshman talent have enabled IU go from an embarrassment to a national championship contender has been remarkable. The 63-10 beat down of Illinois was a glimpse of what this team was about, but despite the lopsided score we still were unconvinced this was a great team. Were we really that good or was Illinois that bad? Until we played number 2 ranked Oregon, we didn’t know, but this was the break out game for the Hoosiers that convinced us once and for all, the Indiana University football team was for real!
It seems that Cignetti has a knack for recognizing and developing talent. According to Wikipedia, Cignetti coached Phillip Rivers at North Carolina State where he won ACC player of the year. Rivers went on to have a 17-year career in the NFL. He also recruited and coached Russell Wilson, who won a Super Bowl for Seattle. Cignetti was an assistant to Nick Saban at Alabama where recruiting was only one of his responsibilities. He coached Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram and wide receiver Julio Jones who had a long, successful NFL career. So he does have an eye for talent, and the ability to get the best out of his players. If anyone should know Cignetti’s strengths it would be Nick Saban, but on “College Game Day,” ESPN’s pre-game show, he picked Oregon to win—“oh ye of little faith.”
The Oregon game Saturday was the most important and electrifying win in IU history. It was the most impressive performance by an Indiana University football team I’ve ever seen. This win was bigger than being in the 1968 Rose Bowl, and bigger than any of the three bowl games IU has won in the past. Indiana’s last bowl win was the 1991 Copper Bowl over Baylor 24-0, 34 years ago! Well, it’s a new era for Indiana football, and I hope it lasts.
This team has so many strengths that it seems nearly perfect. It starts with the offensive line which has protected the quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, as well as any line could, and opened wide holes for the running backs. In the last two games he was sacked only twice, once in each game. While IU’s awesome defense, the second major strength, sacked opposing QB’s 13 times (7 vs. Illinois, 6 vs. Oregon). When you try to name an outstanding defensive player you can’t because it’s a team effort. The entire D line and linebackers have been awesome. Pass rush and stopping the running game have been a team effort, and IU has been successful at both.
The strength that gets the most media attention is the quarterback. Fernando Mendoza, a transfer from California Berkley, and his receivers Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper have been exciting to watch. What’s different about this team is Mendoza actually is able to get the ball where the receivers have a chance to catch it, AND the receivers almost always do that—catch the ball. They get open and darn if the ball isn’t thrown right into their hands. It’s amazing to watch.
The offense shows incredible imagination and efficiency in play design and execution. I’ve seen this team run pass patterns that were never considered by past teams. I guess if you have talent at QB and receiver it opens your options for play calling. Plus having running backs who are quick, strong, elusive, and can pick up 7 or 8 yards each play, opens up the passing game. Having a strong running game enables success in the passing game and vice versa. IU has both.
Special teams have been a strong point, too. The two kickers have been just about perfect. Nick Radicic has made 17 of 18 field goal attempts and 104 PATS. That’s real good. His longest field goal, though, was from 46 yards so enter Brendan Franke, a senior, who Saturday, nailed a 58 yard field goal with room to spare. When you need points, someone steps up and fills the need. Amazing!
Now the biggest concern for Indiana University football fans is the vacant coaching job at Penn State, and the rumors that Curt Cignetti, a native Pennsylvanian, is being considered for the job. Heaven forbid! He can’t leave Bloomington! He can’t leave mid-season…. or any time. NO, it would be heresy. Penn State was pretty quick to fire James Franklin after three straight losses—UCLA, Oregon, Northwestern. There must be more going on to fire him so quickly. We have to hope that Cignetti likes living in Bloomington better than living in University Park, PA, and turns down any offer from the Nittany Lions.
This season and last season are the longest stretch of success in the history of Indiana University football. There is no other season that compares, no win as big as the win over Oregon, and nothing as impressive as their recent performance against ranked teams. I was thinking maybe it’s not a good thing that we don’t play Ohio State or Michigan this season. We miss out on the opportunity to add two more wins over ranked teams to our resume’ this season. Ohio State rarely loses, but IU may have more fight in them in 2025 than they did in ‘24, and could give the Buckeyes all they could ask for.
Since the B1G expanded to 18 teams, the eastern and western divisions have been eliminated. The “playoff” for The B1G championship is decided, then, by a game between the two teams with the best records at the end of the regular season. That just could be IU and Ohio State. Wouldn’t that be something!
Loyal IU fans need to hope that Cignetti doesn’t decide to go to Penn State and that injuries to key players are avoided. To challenge Ohio State we need to be at full strength. They have some of the best college players in the country, but IU’s players may well be on a par with OSU. The way to know is to have a head-to-head matchup December 6th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. This year’s playoff game will be exciting and classic. Hang in there Hoosier fans. Support this team all you can and GO HOOSIERS!
