‘We Deserve to Be Top 10’: Indiana Football Makes a Statement Against Illinois
Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti may not focus on the narratives, but his team sure has one: The Hoosiers believe they deserve more respect, even if it hasn’t come yet.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — What Cignetti witnessed on Saturday night was a direct result of last season’s hard work.
The sea of waving white towels and the massive red-clad crowd at Memorial Stadium. The record-breaking sellout crowd. The belief, not just from his players but from 56,000 fans, that Indiana had what it took to defeat a top-10 team.
However, when Cignetti led the No. 19 Hoosiers out of the tunnel to face No. 9 Illinois, he wasn’t focused on the past or even the current season. He was in the moment: Indiana’s first top-20 home matchup since 1987, only the sixth in the program’s history.
The result? A dominant 63-10 victory that saw Indiana set a Big Ten record for the most points scored against an Associated Press Top 10 opponent.
This win was more than just a statement. It was a declaration that while Indiana honors its history, they’re not afraid to aim for a brighter future—one that All-American cornerback D’Angelo Ponds believes should include a top-10 ranking.
“We Deserve to Be in the Top 10”
Ponds wasn’t shy about his belief in the team’s potential. “We wanted to make a statement, and I feel like we did that,” he said after the game. “We deserve to be in the top 10, I feel like, and we proved that today.”
Though he knows not everyone will buy into the Hoosiers’ claim, Ponds is confident in their performance. “They’ll probably still say we didn’t play anybody,” he said. “They’ll probably say Illinois didn’t deserve to be ranked. That’s what they’ll probably say.”
Redshirt junior receiver Omar Cooper Jr., who had six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, agreed. “We missed out on a chance last year and we’re trying to get further than we did,” Cooper added. “We’ve now beaten a ranked team, and we did it pretty dominantly. I think they’ll start to respect us more.”
Cignetti Focuses on the Game, Not the Narrative
Cignetti, however, wasn’t focused on narratives. “The media controls that, not me or my team,” he explained. “Our job is to get ready, play the game, and see how it unfolds.”
And on Saturday, it unfolded perfectly. Indiana outgained Illinois 579 to 161 in total yards, more than tripling the Fighting Illini in first downs. The Hoosiers sacked Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer seven times and forced seven three-and-outs.
Hall of Fame coach Nick Saban, Cignetti’s former boss, had predicted that Illinois would be more physical than Indiana. But by the end of the game, the Hoosiers had controlled the line of scrimmage.
“It’s a mentality,” Cignetti said. “We’re all tied together. We’re a blue-collar outfit. We go about our business and let our play speak for us.”
Defense Breaks Illinois’ Will
Redshirt junior defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker couldn’t pinpoint when exactly the turning point happened, but he knew the Hoosiers had broken Illinois’ will. “We play every play like the game is tied,” Tucker said. “We don’t let up until the clock hits zero.”
Cignetti noted the Hoosiers had made tremendous strides in the last two weeks, with a dominant performance across all three phases of the game.
Senior linebacker Aiden Fisher pointed out that Indiana’s defense was built to stop the run. “We knew Illinois was physical, but we had a lot of speed and physicality too,” Fisher said. The Fighting Illini averaged just 0.1 yards per carry, including sacks, and gained only 29 yards on 11 carries.
A Dominant Offensive Display
Offensively, the Hoosiers were equally impressive. Redshirt junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza finished the night 21-for-23 with 267 yards, five touchdowns, and no interceptions. Indiana also rushed for 312 yards and three scores, marking the fourth time in as many games this season they’ve eclipsed 300 yards on the ground.
“We’re a great Big Ten team,” Mendoza said. “We showed we can do it both ways—run and pass. It’s all coming together.”
The defense also shined, with Indiana registering 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, while allowing only three plays of 10 or more yards for Illinois.
A Chip on Their Shoulder
Fisher believes Indiana’s edge showed up in every play, especially after hearing the constant talk about Illinois’ physicality. “That gives us an edge,” he said. “We have a lot of guys with a chip on their shoulder, and it shows on the field.”
Even after their dominant victory, the Hoosiers know they’ve yet to prove everything. Mendoza believes the offense is already one of the best, while Fisher says the team knows it’s elite. When asked about Ponds’ top-10 belief, Tucker nodded in agreement.
“We’re aligned, and we’re convinced,” Tucker said. “We reaped what we sowed last year, we’re better than ever now, and no matter who we beat, there’ll always be doubters. But we’re fine with that, as long as we keep winning.”
“Let the world do what they’re going to do,” Tucker added. “We’ll keep doing our thing, and eventually, they’ll have no choice but to acknowledge it.”
No Comment! Be the first one.