Game Wrap and Reaction: Indiana 41 Northwestern 24

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Opponent: Northwestern Wildcats

Location: Evanston, Illinois

Why They Played

Indiana faced off against the Wildcats in the third leg of their nine game Big Ten conference slate.

What The Game Meant

Indiana had made easy work of their nonconference slate and their two conference foes thus far, but a trip to Northwestern on the temporary lake stadium would be the Hoosiers’ toughest test thus far. A win would mean Indiana would be the first FBS team to clinch bowl eligibility this season.

Top Offensive Performers

Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana- Had his third 125+ yard game, finishing with 7 receptions for 135 yards. Consistently found himself open in key moments of the game, earning the ‘Waffle House’ nickname.

Justice Ellison, RB, Indiana – Ellison led the Hoosiers in carries (14) and yards (68) as he added another touchdown on the ground, his fifth straight game with a rushing touchdown.

Bryce Kirtz, WR, Northwestern- It was far from a perfect game from the Indiana defense; Kirtz gave the Hoosier secondary fits, hauling in 10 passes for 128 yards.

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana – Rourke had his third 300+ yard game with the Hoosiers, totaling 380 yards and also throwing for three touchdowns.  

Top Defensive Performers

Jamier Johnson, DB, Indiana- Johnson led the Hoosiers in tackles with six total, five solo.

Theran Johnson, DB, Northwestern- Johnson had five total tackles, all solo, good for tied third best on the Wildcats. He also had a tackle for loss and three passes defended.

Mikail Kamara, DL, Indiana – Kamara was quieter in terms of total tackles yesterday, but once again found his way into the sack column and added two tackles for loss.

Special Team Performance

On a windy day on the lake, we saw a clean kicking performance from both teams in both field goals and extra points. For Northwestern, Jack Olsen hit his 32-yard field goal and also added three extra points. Nicolas Radicic was 2-for-2 on his field goal attempts, with a long of 37, and also hit all five of his extra points.

James Evans was busier than usual yesterday for Indiana (he punted once for 39 yards).

Luke Akers had three punts for the Wildcats, all that were downed inside the 20, with a long of 51 yards.

Joseph Himon II had a strong day for the Wildcats on kick returns, returning four kicks for 76 total yards with a long of 30.

Key Stat(s)

529-336

The Northwestern defense had not allowed a 400-yard performance from any offense yet this season, but the Hoosier offense continues to be on an absolute tear. Indiana exploded for 529 yards of total offense, 380 through the air and 149 on the ground, to produce their fifth-straight game with 40+ points. In a game with no turnovers and few penalties (just three for each team), having an offense you can rely on to drive the field and consistently score touchdowns is so vital.

Turning Point

With 11:19 left in the fourth quarter, Northwestern scored a touchdown to get within three points, 27-24. The Indiana offense needed a response. Their first two offensive plays went nowhere, but on a 3rd and 9 Kurtis Rourke found Elijah Sarratt for a 12-yard first down. It was a play that felt like a time when old Indiana teams would lose momentum and shift the game; instead, the Hoosiers calmly converted, marched down the field to score a touchdown, and never looked back.

I Knew it Was Over When…

Ty Son Lawton had back-to-back runs of 15 and one yards to complete the touchdown drive I described above and make the game 34-24 with just 6:23 to play. A two-score lead felt unsurmountable at that point and I was confident that Indiana was going to make it to 6-0.

What I Took Away from the Game

Indiana found itself in the polls for the first time last week and it would have been easy to read the press clippings and come in overconfident against a tough-nosed Northwestern team needing a win. Instead, the Hoosiers continue to be their calm, unflappable selves – mimicking their experienced head coach. In a week where numerous ranked college football teams fell asleep at the wheel, Indiana continues to stay process-driven and now have the results to back up their work.

There are just two college football teams that can claim they are bowl eligible thorough six weeks of play – Miami and Indiana. This team has been an absolute joy to watch and cover thus far, and I’m happy that on October 5th we can say we’ll be watching the Hoosiers play at least 13 games this season.

What’s Next

Indiana has a bye next week where they can rest up and get ready for their homecoming matchup against Nebraska on October 19th. Gametime is still TBD.