Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

After three dramatic contests and a perfect 3-0 start, the Indiana Hoosiers headed to Nippert Stadium to battle the Cincinnati Bearcats. Last season’s College Football Playoff semifinalist showed they are still a force to be reckoned with and extended their home winning streak to 29 straight victories as a disastrous second quarter buried the Indiana Hoosiers. A strong second half from Indiana ultimately was not enough as the hole was too deep and the Bearcats won 45-24.

Cincinnati won the toss and deferred possession to the second half, giving IU the ball first. The Hoosiers got a couple of first downs before the drive stalled with a couple of negative plays, forcing a punt from James Evans. The Bearcats were pinned at the eight-yard line to begin the drive. They got one first down before a third and two play was stuffed by the IU defensive front. The punt was downed at the ten-yard line but Connor Bazelak, who has flirted with disaster on overthrown passes so far in the season, missed his target high and wide and Bryan Prince intercepted the ball. His return went to the IU six-yard line to set up the UC offense with first and goal. IU’s defense stood tall as Tiawan Mullen and Devon Matthews both had terrific open field tackles, forcing a 24-yard field goal that made the score 3-0. The Hoosiers took back over at the 25-yard line and went on a nice drive, running the ball well with Josh Henderson to get into scoring territory. A recurring theme for Indiana for a couple of seasons has been failing to convert in the red zone and that continued on Saturday as they were forced to settle for a field goal from 27 yards out. Charles Campbell nailed it through the uprights and tied the game at three. However, on the very first play of the next drive, Ben Bryant floated a pass to Tyler Scott who ran wide open down the field. Scott scampered in for the 75-yard score to make it 10-3 Bearcats. IU was forced to punt as time expired on the first quarter and Cincinnati picked up right they left off with a long pass play to Tre Tucker for 45-yards followed by a four-yard touchdown catch for Tucker to make it 17-3. The game appeared to be getting away from IU as they had to punt again on the next possession but the Hoosiers defense sacked Ben Bryant and forced a three and out, earning good field position at the UC 39-yard line. Indiana got the Bearcats defense on its heels and Connor Bazelak utilized the confusion to connect with Josh Henderson on the outside for a 19-yard score to cut the deficit in half, 17-10. Cincinnati quickly responded as IU’s secondary continued to struggle mightily. Tyler Scott got loose again and caught his second touchdown pass of the day, this one a 34-yard score to make it 24-10 with 4:33 left in the first half. The Hoosiers advanced the ball past midfield and were facing a critical fourth and one play. Cincinnati called timeout and the starting tackle Luke Haggard then jumped before the snap, moving IU back and forcing a punt. Ben Bryant continued to carve up the IU defense, tossing another touchdown pass to Tyler Scott with just 32 seconds left to make it 31-10. Things went from really bad to somehow worse for the Hoosiers as Connor Bazelak was sacked and fumbled the ball. The UC defense scooped up the ball and rumbled into the end zone to make it 38-10. The last five minutes of the first half were a complete disaster for Indiana and Bryant finished the first half with 314 yards of passing.

Cincinnati began with the ball after the break and IU’s defense quickly made it clear this would be a very different thirty minutes of football. Ben Bryant threw the ball slightly high, the ball tipped off the receivers hand and Tiawan Mullen came up with the interception to give IU possession at the 49-yard line. The Hoosiers converted three third downs and scored on a two-yard touchdown toss to Shaun Shivers to make it 38-17. Cincinnati went three and out and gave the ball back to the Hoosiers at the 41-yard line. The Hoosiers had good field position but a dead-ball penalty on the Hoosiers halted the drive and forced a punt. IU’s defense remained locked in and forced another three and out from the UC offense. The teams traded three and outs yet again with IU finally taking over the 14-yard line and getting some rhythm. A couple of pass interference penalties on Cincinnati gave IU first downs and Cam Camper made a couple of great catches to get the Hoosiers inside the ten-yard line. The red zone bug bit Indiana yet again though as they failed to gain a yard on three plays from the five-yard line, coming up empty and keeping the score at 38-17. Cincinnati’s offense remained stuck in neutral and had to punt with the Hoosiers taking over around midfield. Shaun Shivers hit the outside and exploded around the edge for a 47-yard touchdown rush to make the score 38-24 with plenty of time still remaining. On their next drive, the Bearcats finally got a first down but the IU defense did not give the momentum back, forcing another punt. Indiana had the ball at the ten-yard line but a penalty backed the Hoosiers to the five and a bad snap in the end zone cost them a down. The drive never got started and IU had to punt. The defense again forced a punt but Christian Harris ran into the punter, giving UC a fresh set of downs. Undaunted, the Hoosiers halted the Bearcats who curiously chose to go for it on fourth and four inside the 40-yard line. The play never had a chance and the Hoosiers took over at the 38-yard line with 6:42 remaining. Bazelak connected with favorite target Cam Camper for a first down near midfield and then converted on third and long to AJ Barner. A negative play on second down stymied the drive and IU turned it over on downs with a little more than four minutes left. On the ensuing third and seven, Ben Bryant tucked the ball and ran to the outside, sliding near the first down. The officials initially gave Bryant the first down but the call was reviewed and the ball was determined short of the marker. Cincinnati punted and backup returner Connor Delp, in for the injured D.J. Matthews fair caught the ball inside his own five, a critical mistake that made the offense’s mission even tougher to execute. IU got one first down but Ivan Pace sacked Connor Bazelak to force fourth and 13. That play was not converted as Bazelak was sacked by three different Bearcats inside the five-yard line. It took three tries but Corey Kiner eventually got into the endzone to make it 45-24.

Ben Bryant led the Bearcats with 354 yards passing including 185 yards to Tyler Scott. Scott caught three of Bryant’s four touchdown passes and Cincinnati had 395 yards of offense. The IU offense ran more than 100 plays as Connor Bazelak threw the ball an astonishing 66 times, going 31 for 66 with 280 yards and two touchdowns plus two interceptions. Cam Camper was the standout receiver, catching ten passes for 126 yards. IU’s defense held Cincinnati to 1.3 yards per carry on 30 carries but the Hoosiers managed only 1.8 yards themselves, largely thanks to the sacks taken by Bazelak. IU had 348 yards but made too many critical mistakes in the first half and were too far behind to truly threaten the Bearcats. IU (3-1) will need to regroup as they face a critical game at Nebraska next Saturday night.

The Huddle

Disastrous Second Quarter Dooms Hoosiers in 45-24 Defeat

Hoosier Huddle