Quarterback Kurtis Rourke of the Hoosiers was sidelined in the second half due to a right hand injury, ending the game in street clothes. Tayven Jackson stepped in to take over for Rourke for the remainder of the match.
With this victory, the Hoosiers maintain an undefeated record at 7-0, including 4-0 in conference play, and impressively have not trailed in any game this season, winning each by a margin of ten or more points. The lopsided win represents Indiana’s largest victory in conference play since a 49-0 triumph against Minnesota back in 1945. The last occasion Indiana opened a season with seven consecutive wins dates back to 1967, when they achieved an 8-0 start.
Curt Cignetti, Indiana’s head coach, has made history by becoming the first in the program’s history to win his first seven games. Over his 14 years as a head coach, he has never experienced a losing season.
Initially expected to be Indiana’s strongest challenge so far, Nebraska (5-2, 3-2 Big Ten) was outmatched. Despite having the nation’s top-ranked rushing defense, which had not allowed a rushing touchdown previously, they gave up five touchdowns on the ground, with Ellison scoring the first on a 5-yard rush during the opening drive. He also notched a 31-yard touchdown just before halftime, contributing to a decisive 28-7 lead. His remarkable performance included a total of 105 rushing yards on only nine carries.
Rourke efficiently completed 17 of 21 passes for 189 yards, alongside one touchdown and one interception. He initiated the scoring with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Myles Price that brought the lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.
Jackson, taking the reins in Rourke’s absence, tossed two touchdown passes to Miles Cross and Elijah Sarratt. Ty Son Lawton added 64 yards on eight carries, including a 1-yard touchdown run. The Hoosiers demonstrated impressive offensive efficiency, averaging 9.3 yards per play in the first half.
On the other side, Nebraska’s defense, which had constrained five of their first six opponents to ten points or fewer, faced a tough challenge against a Hoosiers team averaging 47.5 points per game, allowing a season-worst in total points against.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola for Nebraska had a challenging outing, completing 28 of 44 passes for 234 yards but also threw three interceptions and lost a fumble.
Analyzing the game, Nebraska struggled to find their rhythm after a bye week, leading to their most significant defeat since suffering a 62-3 loss to Ohio State in 2016. Their defense struggled to make stops while the offense faltered in the red zone, unable to score on three occasions.
For Indiana, tougher matchups lie ahead, including home games against Washington and Michigan, along with a road game at Ohio State. However, their confidence is on the rise. Predicted to finish towards the bottom of the conference, Indiana has established itself as a formidable contender for the title.
The outcome could also lead to a significant increase in Indiana’s ranking in the Top 25, depending on the results of other teams.
Next on the schedule, Nebraska will travel to face Ohio State next Saturday, while Indiana prepares to host Washington on the same day.