FOOTBALL GAMEDAY: at Rutgers (Week 5)

Setting The Scene

• Indiana will head east for its first road test of the season in Week 5 at Rutgers on Saturday (Oct. 3) at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The game will broadcast on Big Ten Network.
• The all-time series between the two programs is tied at 5-5 with Rutgers winning the previous three matchups. The last meeting was a 31-14 win for Rutgers in Bloomington in 2023.
• This will be the first time that Curt Cignetti has faced Rutgers in his time as head coach at Indiana. Rutgers is one of three conference opponents that Cignetti has not coached against while at IU (Minnesota, USC)..

News & Notes

• Curt Cignetti reached 30 wins in his first 32 games as a Power 4 head coach with the Week 3 win over Western Kentucky (9/19). Only Larry Coker (Miami (Fla.), 2001-03) and Gil Dobie (Washington, 1908-12) reached the mark faster - both doing so in 31 games.
• Cignetti won his 150th career game as head coach in the 29-23 win in Week 4 over Northwestern (9/25).
• Indiana's 20-game winning streak is the longest nationally since Washington from 2022-24 (21) and the longest in the Big Ten since Ohio State (23) from 2013-14.
• The 20-game winning streak marks just the fourth 20-plus game winning streak in the Big Ten since 1980: Indiana 20, 2024-present; Ohio State 23, 2014-15; Ohio State 24, 2012-13; Penn State 20, 1993-95.
• Indiana has won 31 games over the past three seasons (2024-26) which are the most in a three-year span in program history. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Indiana's two rushing scores against Northwestern marks 27 multi-rushing touchdown games since the start of 2024 (33 games).
• Indiana's opening score against Northwestern was a safety, which was the first since 2024 at Michigan State (blocked punt) and first defensive safety since Idaho in 2022.
• The Hoosiers won time of possession for the 24th time in 33 games under Cignetti against the Wildcats.
• Josh Hoover had his first rushing touchdown as a Hoosier on a fourth quarter, 1-yard score against Northwestern to extend IU's lead to 29-20 with 1:56 left in the game. MORE ON PAGE 7
• Lee Beebe Jr. had his first 200-yard rushing game when he went for a career-high 203 yards against Northwestern along with a career-long 70-yard rush in the fourth quarter. His 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter marked back-to-back weeks with a score. MORE ON PAGE 8
• It was the first 200-yard rushing game by an Indiana player since Stevie Scott had 204 in Week 2 against Virginia in 2018.
• Nick Marsh's 8-yard touchdown reception against Northwestern marked three out of the last four weeks with a score for Marsh. He also is among the FBS leaders in consecutive games with a reception, 27-straight games dating back to his time at Michigan State (2024-25). MORE ON PAGE 5
• Stephen Daley forced two fumbles and had a solo sack against the Wildcats. MORE ON PAGE 12
• In his first career start, Daniel Ndukwe forced his first career safety when he brought Aidan Chiles down in the end zone in first quarter to put Indiana up 2-0. MORE ON PAGE 12
• Nico Radicic's three extra points made against Northwestern extended his consecutive extra points made streak to 168, which is the best in program history and now sits No. 2 in Big Ten history, passing Wisconsin's Rafael Gaglianone (167; 2014-18). He trails Sean Nuerenberger of Ohio State (216; 2014-18) for the No. 1 spot. MORE ON PAGE 15

GAME 5

Setting The Scene

News & Notes

Week 5 Links