No. 4 Indiana keeps rolling.
The defending national champions overcame a slow start Saturday afternoon before taking over in the second half and crushing Western Kentucky 38-0 at Memorial Stadium. The victory moved the Hoosiers to 3-0 and extended their winning streak to 19 games.
The final score made the game look easy, but Indiana had to work for it early.
The Hoosiers managed only seven points through most of the first half as Western Kentucky controlled the clock and kept Indiana’s offense from finding its rhythm. The turning point came late in the second quarter when Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones intercepted Brock Glenn and returned the ball 21 yards to the Hilltoppers’ 3-yard line.
Lee Beebe Jr. scored two plays later, giving Indiana a 14-0 halftime advantage.
After halftime, the Hoosiers finally exploded.
Josh Hoover connected with Charlie Becker on a 79-yard touchdown pass, while Beebe added another rushing touchdown to push Indiana’s lead to 31-0. Becker finished with five catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Turbo Richard was also outstanding on the ground, rushing for 149 yards and a touchdown on just 15 carries. Hoover finished 18-of-24 for 273 yards and two touchdown passes without committing a turnover.
Meanwhile, Indiana’s defense delivered another dominant performance.
The Hoosiers recorded their second consecutive shutout and have now gone back-to-back games without allowing a point. Western Kentucky managed just 120 passing yards and couldn’t find the end zone all afternoon.
The win also continued an incredible home run for Curt Cignetti. Indiana improved to 17-0 at home under its head coach, while Cignetti picked up his 30th victory with the program.
Now the real test begins.
Indiana opens Big Ten play next Friday against Northwestern, and the Hoosiers will enter conference play undefeated and riding one of the nation’s longest winning streaks.
The slow start didn’t matter in the end.
Indiana took over, shut out Western Kentucky and reminded everyone that the defending national champions aren’t going anywhere.
