The Indiana Hoosiers beat up the then No.9 Illinois Fighting Illini 63-10. The Hoosiers’ portfolio is looking good so let’s get into the details of Stock Up/Stock Down.
Stock Up
Passing Offense
Fernando Mendoza is now the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy (+800) and he looked razor sharp again on Saturday night carving up Illinois for five touchdowns on 21-of-23 passing. It’s not only Mendoza though, IU has so many weapons on offense. All three starting wideouts scored touchdowns. Tight end Riley Nowakowski scored a 43-yard touchdown and running back Roman Hemby showed just how valuable he is.
Indiana Fan Base and Memorial Stadium Atmosphere
Memorial Stadium was jammed packed 30 minutes before the game. It was filled up so early that there were literally no lines to get in 10 minutes before kickoff. Saturday night was an event that people needed to be at and IU delivered. The crowd was frenzied from start to finish.
IU Athletics did a really good job as well. They announced a Red Out early in the year, they allowed the band to play more than they have been and there was an awesome half time show. The drone show was really cool.
Coaching
It’s tough to say Cignetti’s stock can get higher, but IU’s coaching staff put on a clinic Saturday night. Indiana schemed up the punt block that led to the first IU touchdown. Illinois had no answers for IU’s offensive execution and the game that defensive coordinator Bryant Haines called was brilliant.
There was also a little chess match in the first quarter where Cignetti changed his mind from punting on fourth-and-one and forcing an Illinois time out. IU would go for it and score two plays later.
Stock Down
‘Overrated’ Chant
The worst chant in sports. It devalues your team’s performance. Why would IU want Illinois to be overrated? Fans can’t chant this and then get on social media and complain that the national media starts the “well, maybe Illinois wasn’t that good” narrative.
“Indiana is actually last year’s Indiana”
It was a lazy, inaccurate take when the “experts” said Illinois was the 2024 Indiana and it’s just as inaccurate to say the 2025 Hoosiers are this year’s 2024 Hoosiers. I don’t think people understand how out of nowhere IU came in 2024 to make the College Football Playoff. This narrative is cheap, lazy and just false. All to get clicks and a sound bite.
