Indiana defeated Illinois 63-10 in front of 56,088 fans, the second-largest home crowd in program history.
Bloomington, Ind. — In front of the second-largest crowd in program history, Indiana Hoosiers Football delivered a performance that will be remembered for years. With 56,088 fans packing Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, IU dismantled Illinois 63–10, setting multiple program and Big Ten records in the process.
The Hoosiers improved to 4–0 for the second straight season, just the second time in school history the team has opened back-to-back years undefeated through four games. The win also marked Indiana’s sixth victory all-time over a top-10 opponent and the largest margin of victory ever against a ranked team.
A Record-Breaking Night for the Offense
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza put on another clinic, completing 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns. His 91 percent completion rate was the third-best single-game mark in IU history, coming just one week after he set the program record against Indiana State.
Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt extended his nation-leading catch streak to 42 games and hauled in two touchdowns, while Omar Cooper Jr. added a score and 78 yards receiving. Tight end Riley Nowakowski electrified the crowd with a career-long 43-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter. Running back Khobie Martin continued his breakout campaign with 107 yards and two touchdowns, his second straight 100-yard game.
In total, the Hoosiers rolled up 579 yards of offense, including 312 on the ground. It was the fourth straight game with more than 300 rushing yards, a first in program history.
Defense and Special Teams Dominate
The defense suffocated Illinois from the start, holding the Illini to just two rushing yards and 161 total yards. IU racked up seven sacks, tied for the third-most in school history against a Big Ten opponent. Mario Landino and Tyrique Tucker each posted career highs with two sacks, while linebacker Isaiah Jones added another.
Amare Ferrell intercepted Ethan Hampton in the fourth quarter, his sixth career pick. On special teams, D’Angelo Ponds blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter, sparking IU’s momentum. Jonathan Brady added 27 yards on punt returns to climb into the single-season charts, and kicker Nico Radicic went a perfect 9-for-9 on extra points, becoming just the third Hoosier ever with 100 consecutive makes.
Cignetti Focused on Iowa Challenge
Despite the historic performance, head coach Curt Cignetti’s attention quickly shifted to next week’s road test at Iowa.
“We had some egregious mistakes on the back end, particularly at safety,” Cignetti said in his weekly media conference. “If we don’t clean those up, we’re going to get fractured. And you can’t put that stuff on tape.”
Cignetti praised his team’s intensity but reminded them the test only gets tougher. “This will be a challenge, a more difficult challenge than the last one, for sure,” he said. “The sooner our guys realize that, the better.”
Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski, a transfer from South Dakota, has given the Hawkeyes a dual-threat option, while head coach Kirk Ferentz continues to field one of the most disciplined teams in the country.
Looking Ahead
Indiana’s 63 points were the most ever scored by a Big Ten team against a top-10 opponent, and the 53-point margin was the largest win in program history over a ranked team. With back-to-back 4–0 starts under Cignetti, the Hoosiers are signaling that last season’s breakthrough was no fluke.
Next week at Kinnick Stadium will reveal just how far this Indiana team has come. For now, fans can celebrate a historic night in Bloomington that put Hoosiers Football back in the national spotlight.
