First-year head coach Curt Cignetti has revitalized the Indiana football team, guiding them to an impressive start that has not been seen since 1967. The Hoosiers, currently unbeaten, have already matched their victory total from the previous season, which has resulted in four players receiving honors from the Associated Press for their outstanding performances during the first half of the Big Ten season.
In a recent vote among nine Associated Press writers covering the conference, Indiana was recognized as the most surprising team in the Big Ten, while Cignetti earned accolades as the top coach. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke was named both the finest first-year transfer and most surprising player. Since their only Rose Bowl appearance in 1968, Indiana has only achieved a winning record 12 times and has not exceeded eight victories in a season since then. After achieving a 14-7 record in 2019-20, the team regressed to a disappointing 9-27 in the following three seasons.
Cignetti, who is 63 years old, has taken on his first head coaching position in a major conference after a successful tenure at James Madison, where he posted a remarkable 52-9 record over five seasons. Upon joining Indiana, he restructured the roster to include 54 new players, nearly half of whom are transfers. Notably, 13 of the 27 transfers joined from James Madison, significantly impacting the team’s performance.
Rourke, a sixth-year player from Ohio, has been especially influential. He has made a seamless transition from the Mid-American Conference to the Big Ten, boasting an average of 292 passing yards per game, which ranks him second in the conference. He shares the lead for touchdown passes with 14, and his impressive completion rate of 73.8% places him third nationally. Rourke is the first Indiana quarterback to achieve three touchdown passes in three straight Big Ten games since Harry Gonso during the iconic ’67 season.
The Indiana offense, led by Rourke, has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, averaging 516 yards and 48 points per game while also leading the Big Ten with 32 passing plays over 20 yards.
Dillon Gabriel, a quarterback transferred from Oklahoma, stands out as one of the top offensive players. Competing for the Oregon Ducks, he has completed an impressive 76% of his passes for an average of 298 yards per game, consistently throwing multiple touchdown passes in each game. Gabriel’s season tally of 13 touchdowns along with a low interception rate of 1.5% (three interceptions from 201 attempts) reflects his high-level performance.
On the defensive front, Michigan’s Mason Graham is making a significant impact, meeting preseason All-America expectations and enhancing his prospects for the NFL draft. Despite facing frequent double-teams, Graham has clocked significant playing time, with Pro Football Focus noting that he has played at least 46 snaps in five of the six matches this season. With a current count of 3.5 sacks and four tackles for loss, he ranks high among FBS interior linemen.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith has emerged as a top first-year freshman, showcasing his skills as a receiver with an average of 17.3 yards per reception and 92 yards per game. His ability to gain yards after the catch has shined, exemplified by his nine receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in a recent matchup, all while going up against a formidable defender from Oregon.
In contrast, Southern California has faced challenges since joining the Big Ten, currently standing at 3-3 overall and no longer in contention for the College Football Playoff. After starting the season with some momentum, the Trojans have stumbled with a string of disappointing losses, including an overtime defeat to Penn State despite leading for the majority of the game.
The strain on head coach Lincoln Riley has increased, especially since the Trojans have only won five of their last 13 games. A crucial area of concern remains their defense, particularly in stopping the run, where they rank poorly in the conference. They have given up several long runs, indicating a significant area for improvement.
In terms of injuries, the team faces challenges with quarterback Tyler Van Dyke from Wisconsin, who has been sidelined due to a knee injury following an effective start. Meanwhile, USC linebacker Eric Gentry has not returned since a stellar performance against Michigan, compounding the Trojans’ struggles on the field.