Indiana achieved a remarkable milestone by finishing the regular season undefeated, highlighted by a resounding 56-3 victory over rival Purdue on Friday. This win propelled the Hoosiers to a perfect record of 12-0, earning them a spot in the Big Ten championship game.
In a game played in frigid conditions at Ross-Ade Stadium, with temperatures dipping to 24 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff, Indiana showcased their offensive prowess. Kaelon Black was instrumental, contributing two touchdown runs, while Fernando Mendoza and Roman Hemby added rushing scores of their own. The Hoosiers” dominant performance not only secured their first perfect regular season in school history but also positioned them favorably for a potential second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.
The Hoosiers celebrated their victory by raising the Old Oaken Bucket in what marked the 100th meeting between the two teams. Coach Curt Cignetti made history as the first Indiana coach since Bo McMillin in 1934-35 to win his initial two encounters against Purdue.
Purdue, under head coach Barry Odom, faced another challenging season, concluding with a dismal record of 2-10 and suffering a 10th consecutive defeat. This marks the second straight season the Boilermakers ended winless in conference play, a feat not seen since the 1919-20 season.
Initially, Indiana struggled to adapt to the cold weather, with Mendoza, hailing from Miami, completing 8 of 15 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns in under three quarters. Cignetti noted at halftime, “We”ve had a hard time getting the passing game going, but we”ve been getting some explosive plays on the ground. We”re pretty balanced, so if you take away one, the other usually opens up.”
Black started the scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Mendoza”s 7-yard dash that pushed the score to 14-3 early in the second quarter. Black then dazzled with a 16-yard touchdown run just before halftime, and Hemby capped the first half with an impressive 82-yard touchdown run, giving Indiana a commanding 28-3 lead.
In the second half, Mendoza continued to excel, throwing two touchdown passes: a 17-yarder to Elijah Sarratt and a 43-yarder to Omar Cooper Jr. Hemby concluded the game with a remarkable performance, carrying the ball 12 times for 152 yards, while Black added 66 yards on 13 carries. As a team, Indiana amassed 355 rushing yards, marking their second-highest total of the season and their sixth game with over 300 rushing yards.
Purdue”s quarterback Ryan Browne completed 25 of 47 passes for 238 yards, but his efforts were marred by an interception on the second play of the game. The Boilermakers managed a total of just 282 yards.
The takeaway from this game shows that while Purdue has improved marginally since last season, they still face a long road ahead, having now entered another offseason with a 10-game losing streak and seeking to break a school-record 18-game conference losing streak. Conversely, Indiana has solidified its reputation as a formidable contender, proving that their successful run last year was no fluke. With a strong scoring offense and defense, they are in an excellent position to make a serious playoff push.
Looking ahead, Purdue will need to undergo another offseason roster reorganization, while Indiana prepares for the Big Ten championship game next Saturday in Indianapolis.
