No. 20 Indiana football kicked off its 2025 season Saturday against Old Dominion University inside Memorial Stadium in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers notched a 27-14 victory, despite allowing Monarchs redshirt sophomore quarterback Colton Joseph to rush for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play of the contest and a 78-yard score later in the game.
Indiana’s offense got off to a quick start, notching 7.5 yards per play in the opening quarter. However, the Hoosiers’ redzone offense squandered its first opportunity of the contest as the Monarchs’ defense held serve at their own 1-yard line on four consecutive plays, forcing a turnover on downs.
On the Cream and Crimson’s ensuing drive, redshirt junior running back Lee Beebe Jr. fumbled at Old Dominion’s 20-yard line.
It took senior Jonathan Brady’s 91-yard punt return touchdown for Indiana to score its first points of the season with just nine seconds left in the first quarter. The Hoosiers then notched a field goal as they struggled to find the endzone after three snaps inside the Old Dominion 10-yard line.
While Indiana’s offense struggled, junior defensive back Amare Ferrell and sixth-year senior Louis Moore each intercepted Joseph in the second quarter.
Moore’s interception gave the Hoosiers the ball at the Old Dominion 5-yard line, paving the way for redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza to score his first touchdown in an Indiana uniform. The Miami native scrambled into the endzone for a five-yard rushing touchdown, giving the Cream and Crimson a 17-7 advantage at halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Hoosiers received the ball to begin the second half. Indiana’s offense strung together an eight-play, 75-yard drive — capped off by sixth-year senior running back Kaelon Black’s two-yard rushing touchdown — to take a 17-point lead.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Nicolas Radicic added a 25-yard field goal with just over three minutes left in the third quarter to give Indiana a 20-point lead.
Junior defensive back D’Angelo Ponds’ interception with just over 10 and a half minutes left in the game gave Indiana its third takeaway. While Joseph notched a 78-yard rushing touchdown on the ensuing drive, the Monarchs still fell by 13.
The Hoosiers finished with 502 yards, gaining 5.6 yards per play. Their defense, with the exception of Joseph’s two lengthy touchdowns, allowed just 161 yards throughout the rest of the contest and prevented the Monarchs from reaching the red zone.
Mendoza finished 18 for 31 for 193 yards passing. He ran the ball six times for 34 yards and a touchdown. Redshirt senior Roman Hemby led the Hoosiers’ running back trio with 110 yards on 23 carries.
Excluding its final drive of the contest, Indiana’s offense made six trips to the red zone. Unlike last season, when Indiana finished second in the nation in touchdown percentage in the redzone, the Hoosiers finished their trips to the redzone Saturday with two touchdowns, two field goals and two turnovers on downs.
The Hoosiers now sit at 1-0 and will return to action against Kennesaw State University at noon Sept. 6 inside Memorial Stadium.
Dalton James covers Indiana football and basketball for the Indiana Daily Student. You can follow him at @DaltonMJames on X and contact him via email at jamesdm@iu.edu.
