Top Social Media Reactions to Indiana’s Thrilling 20-15 Win Over Iowa
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana pulled off a gritty 20-15 victory over Iowa Saturday night, and social media lit up in response to the Hoosiers’ hard-fought win.
After the final whistle, head coach Curt Cignetti celebrated with fans at Kinnick Stadium, leading three emphatic “Go IU!” chants. Just minutes later, he addressed the media with a mixture of pride and realism about Indiana’s performance — now 5-0 heading into their bye week.
Highlights from Coach Cignetti’s Postgame Press Conference:
On the game overall:
Cignetti described it as a “gut-check” win filled with ups and downs. He praised Iowa’s effort and acknowledged his team’s struggles, especially in short-yardage situations. However, he credited his defense for keeping Iowa out of the end zone and his kicker for staying cool under pressure.
On the game-winning play:
The key moment came on a third-down pass to receiver Sarratt, who beat his defender on a slant route, broke a tackle, and scored. Cignetti called it the defining play of the night: “What I’ll remember is Sarratt running toward the end zone.”
On managing a chaotic finish:
In the final seconds, quarterback Fernando Mendoza was instructed to execute a “victory delay” — a tactic meant to run time off the clock. Confusion over the rules led to Mendoza having to run into the end zone to drain the last few seconds, rather than taking a knee. Cignetti acknowledged the need for clarification on the play from Big Ten officials.
On offensive struggles:
The Hoosiers’ passing game sputtered early, attempting just eight passes in the first half. A sack on the first attempt rattled the team. Still, a last-second field goal before halftime gave them momentum. “That was huge,” Cignetti said.
On Mendoza’s late-game interception:
After a fourth-quarter pick, Cignetti noted Mendoza’s visible frustration but credited him for staying composed and eventually delivering the game-deciding throw. “He passed the test,” said Cignetti.
On winning ugly:
Cignetti admitted the team “left a lot of plays out there” and said there’s plenty of film to learn from. Still, escaping with a win in a tough environment like Iowa was no small feat. “It wasn’t pretty,” he said, “but it was huge.”
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but Indiana showed resilience on the road. The Hoosiers head into their bye week undefeated — and social media had plenty to say about it.
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