(11) Indiana at Iowa: Hoosiers Keep Winning Games They Would Have Lost Before
The Curt Cignetti era has been nothing but a revelation for the Indiana Hoosiers. Last year’s team was the most successful in program history. This year, the Hoosiers look even better. Last week, Indiana solidified itself as a serious contender with a routine shellacking of Illinois, a program many thought would be an at-large in the CFP. After that, it’s the Hoosiers who are arguing for their right to be among the Big Ten’s elites.
As a result, a trip to Kinnick Stadium smelled like a trap game. Fittingly, the Hawkeyes gave the Hoosiers everything they had.
Iowa does not look like a great team this year. However, the now 3-2 team had Indiana on the ropes. It took a lead well into the fourth quarter, and Indiana had to score the game-winning touchdown with less than two minutes to go.
It was not the cleanest of games from Indiana. The Hoosiers turned the ball over on downs twice and threw a near-back-breaking interception on third down that realistically should have set Iowa up for the win. In the end, the Hawkeyes missed the subsequent field goal, allowing Fernando Mendoza to make up for the interception with a threaded touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt.
Before Cignetti, Indiana had decent starts but eventually was snuffed out. Games like this would have ended in an Indiana loss. Battling back in a hostile environment to return with the win shows the Hoosiers are here to stay.
The biggest test will be after the bye this week. A trip to Oregon will show whether or not Indiana is ready to play with the big boys.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
