If you would’ve told me three years ago that Indiana football would steamroll a Top 10 opponent in front of a record crowd at Memorial Stadium, I would’ve called you crazy. But Saturday night against No. 9 Illinois, that dream became reality — and the noise was deafening.
Merchants Bank Field shook with energy, and the Hoosiers insist that the roar of the fans fueled their dominance. “The energy in the stadium was phenomenal today,” defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker said. “[It was] beautiful. We got to keep that up. I love the energy out there. I feed off of it. Every time I make a play and I look at the stadium, I get happy. I love that. We got to keep doing that.”
It wasn’t just Tucker who felt it. The crowd was alive from start to finish — booming cheers, singalongs, and plenty of dancing in the stands. Even Hoosier the Bison kept fans on their feet, though the team’s relentless performance gave them more than enough reasons to stay loud. For many, it was the loudest Memorial Stadium has ever been, and linebacker Aiden Fisher echoed that sentiment.
“This was the loudest I’ve ever heard [Memorial Stadium]. It was electric,” Fisher told the media postgame. “Everybody did a great job with the red out. It was awesome. By the time we ran out on the field, I couldn’t hear myself think. We have signals for a reason, so we need to keep that going. It was great having that community that engages with your football team and supports and shows up like this in a big time matchup is huge for your program.”
It was a spectacle in every sense. The crowd matched the team’s energy, and the team fed it right back. One concern Coach Cignetti has voiced in the past is fans leaving early — but not this time. Memorial Stadium shattered its attendance record with 56,088 fans, and no one was in a hurry to leave. At halftime, when Hoosier faithful usually thin out, the stands were still packed — helped in part by a dazzling halftime drone show that kept everyone glued to their seats.
Even after the lights faded, the roar never did. From an hour before kickoff to the final whistle, Hoosier fans in their “Red Out” gear turned The Rock into a wall of noise. Star quarterback Fernando Mendoza couldn’t help but marvel at the atmosphere.
“Fantastic. Pre-warmups, the student section – you couldn’t see an empty seat,” Mendoza said. “To have that support from the student section, hearing their chants throughout the game, hearing their energy, it energizes us as well. When it was 56-10, we keep on going because everyone’s still in the crowd, although it’s raining, they’re waving the towels. And it really just adds another layer, and also I think it made it really hard for Illinois to play here.”
Mendoza wasn’t wrong. The relentless noise rattled the Illini offense, and even a late downpour couldn’t quiet The Rock. Fans briefly darted for ponchos, but most came right back, determined to see Indiana’s statement win to the end. Rain-soaked, towel-waving, and louder than ever — the Hoosier faithful proved they’re as tough as the team on the field.
Now ranked No. 11, Indiana heads on the road to Iowa City and then Eugene after a Week 6 bye. Their next chance to unleash the noise in Bloomington comes October 18, when Memorial Stadium hosts another sellout for Michigan State in The Battle for the Old Brass Spittoon. If Saturday night was any indication, The Rock is only just getting started.