Following an offseason filled with buzz and excitement, Week 1 has finally come and gone, and it’s time to ask the question: Was the hype worth it? That question remains to be answered, but Indiana football looked like a totally different program after a 31-7 win over Florida International University Saturday afternoon.
It’s been just over nine months since the hiring of Curt Cignetti back in November 2023, and the Indiana campus has been buzzing every day since. The student section in Memorial Stadium was filled with Marlboro-branded “Cignetti” t-shirts pregame, which students were quick to grab upon arrival.
After a slow first drive that ended in just three plays and 16 seconds, the Hoosiers were ignited by junior linebacker Aiden Fisher, who didn’t take long to leave his mark on the game. He proved himself as the biggest game-wrecker on the Indiana defense on the second defensive snap for the Hoosiers.
Fisher found himself in the backfield early, picking up his first tackle for loss of the season, which was immediately followed by a sack on 3rd and 14. Fisher filled the stadium with the energy it needed, which led to back-to-back touchdown drives led by senior transfer quarterback Kurtis Rourke.
The offense looked sharp talent-wise which was no surprise, but the way they were moving down the field was a complete turn from a season ago. In 2023, the offense was never truly fluid. There were flaws and holes that were clear from a mile away, and the creativity lacked big time. However, in his first game as the signal caller for the Hoosiers, offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan was throwing multiple different looks and formations at the Panthers’ defense.
Senior tight end Zach Horton scored the first touchdown of the game after he found himself wide open in the middle of the field, allowing him to walk in for the easy nine-yard score. It was evident that Indiana had a much better flow and rhythm whenever they ran quick hitters, especially after developing the run game.
The Hoosiers combined for 234 rushing yards, which nearly doubled their average of 120.1 per game in 2023. Senior James Madison University transfer Ty Son Lawton, who finished with 74 yards and two touchdowns, including one from 13 yards out on the third drive of the game, led the Hoosiers with 16 carries. Senior Wake Forest transfer Justice Ellison was right behind Lawton with 10 carries for 68 yards, and a 19-yard reception on 4th and 4.
Junior University of North Carolina transfer Elijah Green made the most of his playing time, finishing with 82 yards on five carries, including a 51-yard rushing touchdown with a minute and six seconds remaining in the game.
Rourke thrived at getting the ball out quickly, but he was inconsistent when having to throw the ball down the field.
“He missed two to four reads which is going to happen in a football game,” Cignetti said postgame.
“We left ten plays out there offensively,” Cignetti added, which he iterated was not solely on the quarterback.
Rourke finished 15-of-24 with 180 yards and a touchdown. His 63% completion was a jump from what the Hoosiers rolled out over the course of last season, as they completed just 58.5% of passes. A big part of that jump can be attributed to the improved receiving room, which shined early.
The receiving room’s depth was everything it was expected to be and more, with seven different players hauling in a reception, and a combined 180 receiving yards. Sophomore Omar Cooper Jr. led the Hoosiers in targets as well as receiving yards, but senior Myles Price led the team with four receptions. The pass game stagnated towards the end of the first half, and Rourke and his receivers never truly found themselves back in a rhythm during the second half.
“Got to learn to play the lead,” Cignetti said, which is going to be a place the Hoosiers need to improve on moving forward, especially with a conference game against UCLA just two weeks away.
Credit goes to the defense for playing that lead, keeping the Panther offense scoreless in the second half of the game.
“We were swarming the football,” Cignetti said, which was an understatement.
Indiana finished with eight tackles for loss and four sacks, while also adding an interception and a forced fumble. While Fisher was leading the way, senior JMU transfer linebacker Jailin Walker made some noise with eight big hit tackles. The same could be said for senior Old Dominion University transfer defensive back Shawn Asbury, who made multiple important stops, finishing with six total tackles.
The Hoosiers will look to keep the momentum going in chapter two of 13 this season against Western Illinois University at 7 p.m. Friday inside Memorial Stadium. The Leathernecks are coming off a 54-15 road loss against the Northern Illinois University Huskies earlier today.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
