Hoosiers Earn Top-10 Win over Illini

Saturday, September 20

Bloomington, Ind.

7:30 p.m.

Indiana University

4-0 , 1-0

Illinois

3-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Illinois

Indiana

9/20/2025 11:45:00 PM | Football

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By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - White towels twirled. Boy, did they twirl. The record sell-out crowd of 56,088 cheered. Boy, did it cheer. Rain fell and no one left. Boy, did the Indiana Hoosiers appreciate it.

Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium became a nationally televised stage to all that is good with Indiana football Saturday night, a 63-10 display of dominating offense, defense and special teams against Illinois, a veteran top-
10 team with playoff expectations. It left no doubt these No. 19/17 Hoosiers (4-0 overall, 1-0 in the Big Ten) mean championship business.

"This was our first Big Ten game," cornerback D'Angelo Ponds said. "We wanted to make a statement. We did that. It shows how dominant we can be. We deserve to be in the top 10. I feel we proved that."

Or, as head coach Curt Cignetti put it, "They couldn't stop us. We broke their will and pounded them."

The pounding included the most points a Big Ten team has ever scored against an AP top-10 team. IU also has won a program-record 12-straight home games under Cignetti, who has never lost at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.

"It showed we are a great Big Ten team," quarterback Fernando Mendoza said. "We can run and throw. It's starting to click."

IU rocked Illinois (3-1) in the opening quarter -- first with Ponds' blocked punt, recovery and 11-yard touchdown run, then by converting a fourth-and-one gamble at midfield, followed by two quick Mendoza passes of 39 and 11 yards to Omar Cooper Jr. and another TD.

Statement sent and received.

"That gave us momentum and allowed us to keep on rolling," receiver Elijah Sarratt said.

Mendoza was ruthlessly efficient for the second-straight game, going 21-for-23 for 267 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in three quarters before his brother, Alberto, replaced him.

Against Indiana State the previous week, he was 19-for-20 for 270 yards and five touchdowns. That's 43 passes, three incompletions, 537 yards, and 10 TDs.

Not good enough, he said, especially with a trip to defensive-minded Iowa (3-1) next.

"There's still stuff I have to clean up," he said. "I missed Elijah and Coop on throws. We'll get back to that and be ready for Iowa."

For the season, Mendoza has thrown a Big Ten-best 14 touchdown passes without an interception.

"He took a big step last week and took another this week," Cignetti said "He's playing with a lot of confidence. His progress has really accelerated the last couple of weeks. He wants to be great."

Greatness had help from Sarratt and Cooper Jr., who combined for 15 catches, 170 yards, and three touchdowns.

IU also recorded its fourth-straight 300-yard rushing game, finishing with 312. Running back Khobie Martin again came on strong late for his second-straight 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 107 yards and two touchdowns. Kaelon Black added 89 yards and one TD.

Defensively, the Hoosiers held Illinois to 163 total yards and nine first downs. They had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, and forced nine punts, plus had an interception (by defensive back Amare Ferrell).

"When they do that," Ponds said, "it makes our job way easier. It felt like they were sacking the quarterback almost every play."

IU also didn't commit a turnover and had just two penalties.

"We tried to give our best effort every play," Cooper said. "Our defense did a great job. We had a great week of practice. The coaches had a great game plan. The O-line played amazing. Fernando has an amazing arm."

A near-perfect Hoosier first half delivered a 35-10 lead and one over-riding Cignetti mandate -- no letup over the final 30 minutes.

The Hoosiers didn't, adding a rushing and throwing TD in the third quarter, then two more rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter while continuing to punish Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer into irrelevance. He finished 14-for-22 for 146 yards and a touchdown.

"I thought our D-line could whip their O-line," Cignetti said. "Our guys are tied in together. They don't talk a lot. They hit the field and it's all business.

"The way we're playing in all three phases, there's no let up with these guys."

*****

Defense ruled for the first six minutes. Then Ponds rocked Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium with his blocked punt, recovery and touchdown for a 7-0 Hoosier lead.

Illinois countered with a 59-yard tying touchdown pass a minute later to tie the score. IU countered back with Mendoza's 11-yard TD pass to Cooper Jr. for a 14-7 IU advantage. Mendoza's 11-yard scoring pass to E.J. Williams Jr. made it 21-7 with 11 minutes left in the second quarter.

Mendoza's 43-yard screen pass for a touchdown to tight end Riley Nowakowski and a nine-yard scoring pass to Sarratt made it 35-7. Illinois got a field goal for a 35-10 halftime score.

Then the Hoosiers unleashed their rushing attack. Black bolted 40 yards for a touchdown and a 42-10 lead less than four minutes into the third quarter. IU finished with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Sarratt and Martin TD runs of 31 and eight yards.

In the aftermath, Cignetti downplayed suggestions IU's performance sent a message about its national title prospects. Not with their first road game of the season looming at Iowa City.

"I have to get them ready. We play the games and see where it shakes out at the end of the year."

Added Sarratt: "It was not a statement for us. It was us going to work. We put the time in and executed.

"This game was important, but the next game is just as important. I know Illinois is a good team, but this was just another game. We want to keep doing what we're doing."