Indiana football wrapped up their non-conference schedule this past Saturday, steamrolling the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 52-14.
The offense came out of the gate hot for the Hoosiers, but the defense looked shaky early on, allowing the 49ers to accumulate 177 total yards in the first half and 14 points. Seven of those points came on a 13-yard run from Charlotte redshirt-sophomore running back C.J. Stokes on 3rd & goal.
This drive was the worst one yet for the Indiana defense in 2024.
On the drive, Charlotte moved the football at will with redshirt-junior walk-on third-string quarterback Trexler Ivey picking the Hoosiers apart. Seeing how easily the ball was moved against the defense was worrisome, especially after a touchdown had been called back due to an ineligible receiver downfield for the 49ers. Even after the mishap, Charlotte capitalized with a 13-yard rushing touchdown.
Non-conference play is now in the rear-view mirror; mistakes like that should be as well.
The second of Charlotte’s two 75-yard touchdown drives showed a lot of holes in the pass defense with the Hoosiers coming out slow and flat, especially in the secondary. While the Indiana defense isn’t going to keep every opponent to fewer than two touchdowns, there were multiple slip ups that will not fly against the Big Ten the rest of the way.
“That offense does a lot of motions and shifts so you got to communicate fast,” senior defensive back Shawn Asbury said postgame. “A lot of things we’ve never seen before, and we were able to make adjustments.”
The defense showed obvious improvements in the second half, giving up just 79 yards of total offense and holding the 49ers scoreless. The most important adjustment was keeping the 49ers off the ground. Charlotte rushed for 86 yards in the first half, averaging 5.1 yards on 17 carries, but in the second half, the Hoosiers gave up just 51 rushing yards, holding the 49ers to 3.2 yards per carry on 16 attempts.
These adjustments are going to be one of the most important things Indiana can do heading into Big Ten play. With the Big Ten being known for elite running back play, the Hoosiers can and will find themselves looking for answers heading into the locker room. Coming out with a different approach in the second half was one of the most impressive moments from the blowout win.
On the other side of the ball, the Indiana offense looked as good as ever, totaling 510 total yards, 29 first downs and 52 points. They were led by senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who finished 16-of-20 with 258 yards and a touchdown.
Rourke has played like one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten as he is now up to 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns, as well as a clean zero interceptions. Getting this kind of quarterback play in a defense-minded conference is going to be such an advantage for the Hoosiers in Big Ten play, especially against top defenses like Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State.
“Kurtis is a baller,” junior running back Kaelon Black said postgame. “Everyone’s just rallying around him and he’s the team leader so we’re just following behind him, and he does his thing.”
While running the football is one of the main characteristics of the Big Ten, quarterback play remains crucial. Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and Ohio State quarterback Will Howard highlighted early in the year how important it is, leading both teams to an undefeated record thus far.
Rourke has earned the right to have his name up there with elite level players like Gabriel and Howard.
But as important as the quarterback position is, a winning team must have 10 other contributors. Heading into their matchup against Charlotte, the Indiana receiving room had zero drops according to Pro Football Focus and accounted for 865 yards with eight touchdowns.
In the best way possible, it remains unclear who the top guy is for the Hoosiers in the receiving room. It seems like every week another player has a breakout game that highlights how deep the room is — first senior Miles Cross, then junior Elijah Sarratt and now senior Ke’Shawn Williams, who has three touchdowns in his last two games.
It goes beyond the receiving room, however, as the running backs are consistently dominating opposing teams. Just like with the wideouts, you never know who is going to be the lead ball-carrier for the Hoosiers, which has been a big advantage.
Junior Elijah Green has scored a touchdown in every game this season, senior Ty Son Lawton picked up his second multi-touchdown game of the season against Charlotte and senior Justice Ellison has four touchdowns in the last three games. Black also picked up his first touchdown of the season against the 49ers, which further proves the depth of the Indiana offense.
The Hoosiers have shown they have all the pieces necessary to make noise in the Big Ten this season: a dominant defense, a high-powered offense with a stellar quarterback and a coaching staff that continues to develop the team. While the schedule begins to get harder, don’t expect much to change for this undefeated Indiana squad.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
