Bloomington, IN – In what headlined as a significant early, Big Ten clash for 2025 resulted in a well-coached, efficient No. 10 Indiana Hoosier team (4-0. 1-0) dominating Illinois, 63-10. Indiana came on strong as advertised, but overhyped Illinois showed major weaknesses not indicative of preseason publications reporting. Some dubbed the return of offensive lineman opting out of the NFL draft to come back to challenge for the Big Ten Title. Some mentioned the starting O-line as top candidate for the Joe Moore Award, worthy of the top offensive line in college football.
Far from it, they allowed a blocked punt for a touchdown, gave up seven sacks and led a rushing attack gaining only two net yards. Maybe they opted out of the draft to make some quick NIL cash before college graduation. Many fans we speak with agree, the NIL component has changed the face of college sports qualifying as amateurism.
In addition to the Illini’s exposed weakness on offense, defensively, their tackling in the open field and their inept pass coverage resulted in long a critical Hoosier gains all night long. Missed tackles occurred on multiple big gains. Indiana completed many sideline, slant passes that the Illini coaching staff never figured how to stop. IU QB Carlos Mendoza took advantage completing 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five TDs. WR Elijah Surrat caught nine such for 92 yards and two TDs. Omar Cooper, Jr. snagged six for 78 yards and a score. RB Khobie Martin picked up 107 rushing yards and two TDs on 12 carries. Kaelan Black added to the team’s 312 rushing yards. He carried ten times for 89 yards and a TD for the Indiana onslaught.
Despite early mistake, Illinois looked ready to make this a game
After the exchange of punts by both teams, the Illini set up once again to punt away from their 33. However, punter Keelan Crimmins took his time in booting it away. D’Angelo Bonds blocked it for Indiana and scooped it up at the 11 for a 7-0 Hoosier lead. On the third play of Illinois’ next possession, WR Collin Dixon caught a ball down field near a falling defender. He raced 59 yards to even up the score. It looked like this would be the seesaw battle many anticipated. Our Guest Games Analyst (GGA) Dave Hickman (Illinois/NIU alum and 82nd Airborne vet) especially looked forward to it. However, the Illini efficiency witnessed on this series didn’t last. Three of their next four series in the first half lasted for three plays and one for four. All resulted in punts.
Illini can’t stop Hoosiers
In between, Indiana possessions resulted in touchdown drives of 75, 69, and 67 yards. Omar Cooper, Jr. caught an 11-yard pass. TE Riley Nowakowski hauled in a pass for 43-yard score. Lastly, Elijah Sarratt scored on the end of a nine-yard Mendoza pass. The best Illinois could muster before halftime came with an eight-play series. It resulted with David Olano’s 46-yard FG to close the first half, 35-10, Indiana. For halftime festivities, the Hoosier marching band performed, and an impressive Drone Light show hovered above IU’s Memorial Stadium.
Second half, same as the first
In the second half, the first three Illini possessions resulted in punts after three-and-outs. On the fourth possession, they drove for five plays before Amere Ferrell’s interception (we were on our way out as it started to rain near the end of a very non-competitive game). In the meantime, Indiana continued to score at will. Black capped a 75-yard drive with a 40-yard run. Sarratt caught Mendoza’s fifth TD pass of the game from five yards out. In the final period, Martin scored his two TDs from 31 and eight yards to polish off drives of 69 and 67 yards. Indiana had humbled the Illini, 63-10.
Though literally No. 19 defeated No, 9, it’s difficult to hail this as an upset. The better team definitely won. Preseason hype vaulted the Illini into the Top Ten. Their first three victories against inferior competition did not prove this. Same could be said for the Hoosier’s early schedule, but they will also be called out on greater challenges ahead. We suppose Illinois will set a record now for furthest drop in the Associated Press poll ever (fell 14 spots from No. 9 to 23).
New “friends” in Bloomington, IN
Having had frustrating experiences with online prepaid parking previously at the two games attended in Oregon earlier this season (got our money refunded on both accounts with much online debate), we hesitated to do the same going to Bloomington for the first time. All lots around Memorial Stadium we found to be prepaid and basically full. A church lot remained closed until 4:30 and Dave thought we should wait and somehow get into that despite a long line to evolve. Problem: we had a cooler of beer to get started on. So, we sat in snarled traffic near the stadium for a bit. we asked people for suggestions and took guesses at where we would find a space somewhere within stadium walking distance. We eliminated any garage options as we found out none allowed tailgating.
“Seek and ye shall find”
Dave was particularly frustrated, but I forged on knowing that we would fine something, somewhere. Somehow, I figure through the grace of God, I always do! On 11th Avenue a few signs posted in one driveway finally loomed ahead of us. Some resourceful students must live here, we figured. We turned into a lot with a beer-pong game being played by IU students on a permanent, built-in table. These guys had no idea about the parking, but from the porch of the house came another IU student who resided there, Sam.
He welcomed us and two spaces off the street, we got our convenient $40 spot. We set up our chairs and to drink our beers for about three hours before heading down the street to witness the eventual slaughter. Sam and his friends were cordial, and Dave and I admired them for their resourcefulness. Enjoyed seeing that in these young guys.
Amateur parking attendants
Later, they said they were heading down to the game and assured us the car was safe there. Maybe we’d see them later. We agreed to take care of their remaining spot if anybody else came along. A little while later, a pick-up truck with a father and his young son pulled up. We helped them park in the tight spot, and they gave us the money. We were happy to catch up with Sam and his friends returning after the game to hand the money over. It was great meeting all the students who lived there. Nice kids and happy to have met such outgoing, friendly IU students.
The Donald of Indiana
We sat next to a die-hard Hoosier fan above the game in section 111 named Donald. He first prodded me regarding my point-and-shoot camera “like his parents used to have.” I hate taking pictures with my phone. What can I say? He gave me a lot of great insight expressing the changes witnessed at Memorial Stadium for this game – our first time here.
First of all, we witnessed the first time in years, probably since his parents went to school at IU, when the majority of the fans this evening wore Indiana colors. Typically, he said, IU tickets generally got scoffed up by other Big Ten fans to see their team come and beat IU. Not so tonight. Also, this season, Indiana brought back mascot Hoosier the Bison who was phased out years before. The revived mascot re-introduced himself at the season opener this year. He parachuted down from a Helicopter and landed for bullseye on the Indiana logo on the 50-yard line. From there, he sprinted directly to the far end of the field into the tunnel. Finally, he re-emerged on his blazing motorcycle which he also arrived on tonight. Pretty impressive. Hoosier the Bison must have joined special ops after IU phased him out.
Donald and all Indiana fans admire HC Curt Cignetti
Donald told of how HC Curt Cignetti has changed the entire attitude of Indiana football. He just wants to beat everybody and beat them bad. No mercy as displayed on the foe as seen tonight. He insisted that even with a 35-10 lead at the half, Cignetti went into the locker room broiling about the play that put Illinois into position to make their field goal. Almost sounds like a former, successful IU basketball coach who led the Hoosier’s program to the top. He pointed the out the many James Madsion transfers Cignetti brought with him and how they all turned this program around together. He’s got a top defensive recruit visiting Bloomington for his second time, Times are changing for the better for Indiana football.
Now, Donald and all the IU fans enjoy becoming competitive after many years of struggling. From our personal perspective, in the past year since we went on a river cruise in Europe and even today’s experience on 11th Avenue, we’ve met many great, nice people from the state of Indiana. We wish them and their football team all great success. That is until they come visit Happy Valley on November 8 when they meet with our favorite Nittany Lions football team.
Our season continues…
Unbelievable! Next Saturday, Illinois hosts USC in Fox Sports Big Noon Game!!! Can’t someone at Fox call an audible on that one after the Illini’s performance against Indiana? I even hate to say this: Not a Rutgers fan, switch with BTN to put RU vs Minnesota on that show. At least, they’ll catch the NY metro television market. No one from Illinois will be watching the original game slated. Indiana heads out to Iowa (3-1, 1-0) ) who just defeated RU last Friday night, 38-28. As Donald pointed out to us, the Iowa game stands as one of three critical road trips for the Hoosiers. The others being at Oregon and at Penn State.
Speaking of Oregon and Penn State, that is where we’re taking our trip to next Saturday when the Ducks visit the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley. The keys to victory will be if PSU can take at least a two-touchdown lead onto the final period. That would indicate that their defense should be up to the task of keeping the high-scoring Oregon offense in check. If not, the Ducks will have an advantage because we don’t see James Franklin having the capability to make good decisions in a tight ball game down to the wire. Either way, this should be a battle, nothing like we saw back in Bloomington
Some historical updates
At our 718th game, IU’s Memorial Stadium becomes our 101st
Memorial became our 101st FBS Stadium we’ve ever attended, 197th college football venue overall. Thirty -five more FBS Stadiums lie ahead as do seven more states to visit to attend a college game. Our Hoosier record stands now at 3-2 with other wins over UMass and Western Kentucky. Both losses at Penn State. Illinois struggles in our presences at 1-5. Conference games attended now at 253. Check out all our Collegefootballfan.com records and achievements and key memoires by clicking here on Milestones.
And our tales keep rolling along but catch our 45 previous seasons of games!
Click on the title of my book about this life-long adventure: Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun, and the Ugly on Amazon.com. Read the reviews on the book page and get your copy today! If you’re trying to follow NILs and transfer portals, read what we predicted in 2023 and more. You’ll see we know what we’re talking about. In addition, we offered solutions to issues occurring that we anticipated when we wrote this book. Based on our game story above, this fun, unique life-long Journey continues. Catch up on the last 45 years, and then please submit a review. We hope you will get a kick out of our great adventure having seen every (well 134) FBS team play over the years! Two newest to be added later this season.
Edited by and photos taken by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The Good, the Fun and the Ugly.
