Photo cred: IU Athletics
MEMORIAL STADIUM (IUSTV SPORTS) — If there’s anything college football has taught us, it’s that it should take a little bit of time to get going under a new head coach. Curt Cignetti disagrees. In Indiana’s first four games under their first-year head man, they’re 4-0 with an undefeated finish to the non-conference slate and the program’s largest road conference win since 2001. Those first few weeks are when you’re supposed to learn a lot about the team, their strengths and their weaknesses. It wouldn’t be bold to say we’ve seen more strengths despite the Hoosiers proving they’re human too in the first half of today’s 52-14 win over Charlotte.
It’s even gotten difficult to answer one of the simplest questions about a football team. Is this an offensive team or a defensive team? Both have had their moments. But so far, this team goes as Kurtis Rourke goes. And the sixth-year senior transfer Quarterback has kept his foot on the gas. His numbers won’t jump out at you, but he hasn’t made many mistakes and he’s gotten better each week. After a slow-ish start week one, Rourke has gone 56-70 for in the last three weeks including 258 yards this week.
“If we protect him and the receivers separate, he’s going to get the ball to them”, Cignetti said after the 42-13 win at UCLA. “That’s exactly what he’s done”.
A large part of Rourke’s hot start has been aided by those around him. He’s gotten near-perfect protection, and he has one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the conference. Rourke has been sacked just twice through the first four games, both coming in week one. On top of having ample time to throw, he also has a lot of options to throw to. Six different receivers have recorded a three-reception game this year, and that’s not included their leading receiever from last year, Donavan McCulley. All this and a solid run game have lead to just five punts from punter James Evans so far.
“It’s felt like it’s almost been easy”, Indiana senior wide receiver Myles Price said when asked about their ability to move the ball downfield. “I’m really happy about that. Everyone’s doing their job”.
The defense may be the bigger surprise on the young season though. Half of the first-string defense is made up of transfer portal newcomers, which came with a lot of question marks that were answered quickly. They have only allowed 797 total yards of offense through the first four games. A lot like the offense getting a boost from the play up front, the defensive line has been equally impressive. Teams have ran for only 298 yards so far.
The defense’s worst half on the season came in the first of week four against Charlotte. The 49ers came into this game just barely edging out FCS Gardner-Webb the week prior, scoring just 27 points. The Hoosiers gave up touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the second quarter, with a 13-yard CJ Stokes house call and a touchdown reception from Isaiah Myers. Those 2 touchdowns made today not just the only quarter but the only full game the defense has given up two touchdowns. But the important part was how they responded. That would be all Charlotte could put on the scoreboard, with the offense not missing a step, taking a home a fourth commanding win, 52-14.
“Going in, one of the messages to the team was they got a lot of players and they’re going to come out. But they do wear down”, Cignetti said after the Charlotte win. “And I thought there was a point where they did”.
It’s important to take the 4-0 start with a small grain of salt considering the first four opponents. Teams that Indiana have played this year have a combined two wins against FBS opponents. But that doesn’t matter to fans that haven’t seen this team start a full season 4-0 since 2015. The Hoosiers are the first team to 200 points in the FBS and have given up four total touchdowns in four weeks. Non-conference play has wrapped up, with Indiana hosting Maryland into Memorial Stadium followed by a trip to Northwestern before the first bye week.
