The No. 20 Indiana Hoosiers kicked off their 2025 campaign with a gritty 27–14 victory over Old Dominion at Memorial Stadium. Despite early setbacks, Indiana’s resilience fueled a dominant performance in front of a raucous home crowd.
First-Play Shock & Turnaround Response
The Monarchs stunned the Hoosiers right from the first snap when quarterback Colton Joseph executed a read-option and sprinted 75 yards for a touchdown. Indiana’s defense appeared rattled early, and it took a moment of brilliance to answer the call.
That spark came late in the first quarter when senior Jonathan Brady returned a punt 91 yards to the house, tying the game at 7 with just nine seconds remaining.
Building the Lead
In the second quarter, kicker Nico Radicic converted a 22-yard field goal, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza punched in a 5-yard touchdown run—his first in a Hoosier uniform—putting Indiana ahead 17–7 at the half.
The third quarter began with an 8-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 2-yard run from Kaelon Black, giving Indiana breathing room. Radicic added another field goal from 25 yards out to extend the lead to 27–7.
A Brave Push from Old Dominion
The Monarchs refused to go quietly. Joseph once again broke free, this time sprinting 78 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close the gap. But Old Dominion’s surge came too late—Indiana held firm and ran out the clock.
Stat Leaders and Season Significance
- Fernando Mendoza completed 18 of 31 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown while rushing six times for 34 yards.
- The rushing attack was led by Roman Hemby (110 yards on 23 carries) and Kaelon Black (92 yards on 17 carries, 1 TD). Indiana piled up 308 rushing yards in total.
- Defensively, interceptions by Louis Moore, Amare Ferrell, and D’Angelo Ponds were pivotal in swinging momentum in Indiana’s favor.
With the win, Indiana improved to 1–0, extending their home win streak to nine games—a testament to the strong foundation coach Curt Cignetti is building.
Key Takeaways
- Immediate adversity overcome — Despite letting up explosive plays early, Indiana rallied and answered each challenge.
- Ground game dominance — Hemby, Black, and the offensive line wore down the Monarchs, totaling 308 rushing yards.
- Special teams and turnovers matter — Brady’s punt return and timely interceptions shifted momentum decisively.
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