Indiana achieves best start since 1967 after defeating Maryland 42-28

The Indiana Hoosiers secured a 42-28 victory against the Maryland Terrapins on Saturday, improving their record to 5-0 for the first time since 1967, marking their best start in over half a century. The Hoosiers, led by Kurtis Rourke’s impressive performance with 359 passing yards and three touchdowns, have surpassed the 30-point mark in all five games this season, a streak not seen since 2000. Maryland, now 3-2, faced their first loss to Indiana since 2020, despite a commendable effort from Billy Edwards Jr. who threw three touchdown passes and a standout 75-yard touchdown run from Roman Hemby.
Indiana took the lead early on and never trailed throughout the game. Rourke, although throwing two interceptions in the first half, managed to break the tie with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Sarratt in the third quarter. The Hoosiers further solidified their lead with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Rourke to Donaven McCulley and a 14-yard touchdown run by Ty Son Lawton, making the score 42-21.
Maryland fought back with a late 12-yard touchdown pass from Edwards to Hemby, but it proved insufficient to overcome Indiana’s dominant performance. The Hoosiers displayed strength on both offense and defense, with Justice Ellison’s 19-yard touchdown run and Elijah Sarratt’s 128 receiving yards contributing significantly to their victory.
Looking ahead, Maryland will have a bye week before facing Northwestern on Oct. 11, while Indiana will put their unbeaten streak to the test against Northwestern next Saturday. Umpire James Shaw III also made headlines during the game, taking a big hit in the third quarter but showing resilience by returning to officiate after a brief pause.
Under the guidance of first-year coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana’s remarkable season continues to defy expectations. With the possibility of four more winnable games on the horizon, the Hoosiers are poised for a successful season filled with milestones and achievements.