Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 56 Nebraska 7

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN

Why They Played: 

The Hoosiers played the Cornhuskers in a conference game in Bloomington for the first time since 2016.

What The Game Meant: 

The game was supposed to be Indiana’s first “real test” of the season, which has been said a number of times already. This was a statement game for IU in front of 80+ recruits and a sold out homecoming crowd in Memorial Stadium.

Top Offensive Performers:

Indiana Run Game- All week Indiana fans heard about how Nebraska had not allowed a rushing touchdown in 2024 and that the Cornhusker defensive line would shut down the IU running game since this was the first “real” team the Hoosiers have played. It didn’t play out that way. Led by a dominant offensive line, the IU ground game put the ball in the end zone five times and ran for 215 yards. Justice Ellison had 106 yards on just nine carries with two touchdowns and all four of the main running backs reached the end zone.

Indiana Wide Receivers- When the Hoosiers weren’t running the ball, they threw the ball with spectacular results. The Hoosier wide receiver group made play after play to keep drives alive and bury Nebraska. It was a total group effort again as 10 Hoosiers caught passes. IU had 280 yards through the air and three touchdowns.

Top Defensive Performers:

D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana- Ponds was really good in the passing game, but his most impressive plays came in making tackles in space. Multiple times he stopped ball carries at or near the line of scrimmage. Ponds made seven tackles (six solo) and had a tackle for loss.

Shawn Asbury, DB, Indiana- Asbury had the big interception near the goal line on Nebraska’s first drive of the second half. This play was the one that turned a potentially closer game into a full on blow out in Bloomington. In total Asbury had four tackles, including one for loss, and the interception.

Terry Jones, DB, Indiana- This was Terry Jones’s most impactful game as a Hoosier. He was an absolute menace on defense and his impact went beyond the stat sheet. Jones had six tackles with a sack and had another quarterback pressure.

Special Teams Performance:

The Indiana special teams unit had a great day and that is not just because it looked better than a Nebraska unit that was unsurprisingly terrible. The only blemish on IU’s day was a kickoff out of bounds.

Myles Price had a 20-yard return. Nico Radicic hit all eight extra points and James Evans’ lone punt was a solid one. Quinn Warren’s kickoffs have been really good this year and he made a touchdown saving tackle on a return late in the game.

But boy, was I right about how bad Nebraska was on special teams. That was awful.

Key Stat(s):

Seven

Indiana averaged seven yards per carry on non-sack runs. After hearing all week that the stout Nebraska defense would shut them down, IU ran all over the Cornhuskers as the offensive line plowed the way for all four IU backs.

Turning Point:

The turning point came when Shawn Asbury picked off Dylan Raiola on fourth down at IU’s three yard-line and returned it 78 yards. Two plays later IU was up 35-7.

I Knew it Was Over When…

Justice Ellison gashed the heart of the Nebraska defense for a 31-yard touchdown with 1:09 to go in the second quarter. 

What I take away From the Game:

Since I started following IU football in 2002, that was the best atmosphere for a home game I have seen. It’s only competition is the 2007 Bucket Game. This was a huge chance for the Hoosiers to convince both their own fans and national college football fans that they are for real. Hint: they are.

In front of the fourth largest crowd in Memorial Stadium history as well as a national TV audience as Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff game. This was a big time atmosphere and IU showed out. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show looked like a Little 500 party as thousands of fans packed the South Plaza and were shoulder to shoulder. 90-percent of the stadium was full 15 minutes before kickoff as the team ran out on the field.

On the field the performance was just as, if not more, impressive than the performance off it. The Hoosiers came out and started fast again. The offense took the ball and marched right down the field for a touchdown. The offense did whatever they wanted whenever they wanted against what I was told was the best defense in the country.

The passing game was just as impressive as the running game as IU receivers made play after play, It was not just one player. Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper, Miles Cross and Zach Horton all made huge plays. Again, this is not surprising to anyone who has read this site or follows IU football. The unselfishness of this entire team is special. 

The Hoosier offense did face some adversity as starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke missed the entire second half with a thumb injury. Redshirt junior Tayven Jackson stepped in and the Hoosier offense did not miss a beat (this is why you want to blow out some teams early).

The Hoosier defense made Dylan Raiola look like a freshman as he threw three interceptions. They also forced two fumbles and stopped Nebraska four times on fourth down. Every yard was a struggle for Nebraska.

The expectations have been raised in Bloomington as the Hoosiers sit atop of the Big Ten standings and control their destiny for a berth in the Big Ten title game and the College Football Playoff.

What’s Next

The Hoosiers (7-0, 4-0) are back at home to face the Washington Huskies (4-3, 2-2) at noon.