“Huge special teams gaffes throughout the entire game” is how head coach Curt Cignetti described the performance by his specialists against Minnesota on Saturday.
There was a missed 31-yard field goal by Nico Radicic. Another field goal attempt was blocked, and a third never had a chance after the snap and hold were botched.
In a tight game, that was enough to doom most teams.
But that wasn’t even the half of it.
Punter Billy Gowers shanked two punts –15 and 27 yarders that led to 10 Minnesota points.
There was a holding penalty on a punt return, and Charlie Becker fair caught another return at his own three yard-line.
“It was so uncharacteristic of us,” Cignetti said of the special teams blunders.
And special teams wasn’t the only unit seemingly doing everything it could to lose this game.
The offense committed two turnovers and was just 2 of 12 on third down. As a team IU had eight penalties. Even the defense got duped on a trick play in what was an otherwise strong performance.
But somehow, some way, Indiana found itself with a chance.
It wasn’t much of a chance, with the ball at its own 25 yard line with just 19 seconds left, down 16-13.
But it was a chance.
Backup quarterback Grant Wilson completed a 33-yard pass to Charlie Becker to put the Hoosiers in range for a 60-yard field goal.
With two seconds left on the clock there were still a few problems.
First, the longest field goal in IU history was 58 yards. Second, 60 yards is out of Radicic’s range. And long field goal specialist Paddy McAteer was just 1 of 3 on the season, with his lone make from just 21 yards out.
Things were not looking good. 60 yards felt like a fantasy. A Hail Mary pass seemingly had better odds.
But Cignetti sent out McAteer for the long try.
“I told him swing nice and easy, not an inch to the right, not an inch to the left,” Cignetti said. “Because sometimes those kickers want to over-kick those things. He’s got plenty of leg for that.”
It’s up & it’s good! https://t.co/fz5DJYWKwW
— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) November 1, 2026
McAteer would have been justified in swinging a little harder. He said after the game he’s never made a field goal in practice longer than 58.
“We never really touched 60. It was a forbidden number,” McAteer said.
But McAteer said as soon as he saw IU reach the 42, he knew he was ready.
His kick was dead center. It sailed directly over the camera CBS had mounted on the goalpost. It probably had a yard or two to spare.
AND JUST LIKE THAT INDIANA RESPONDS WITH ITS OWN 60-YARD FIELD GOAL!
IT’S PADDY MCATEER FOR @IndianaFootball!
(via CBS) https://t.co/7Z47FbYyM9
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 31, 2026
“PADDY, PADDY, PADDY” his teammates chanted in the postgame locker room when Cignetti called him to the front to lead the team in the singing of the fight song.
“He trusted me and I just went out there and trusted coach Cig’s advice. Thank God it worked,” McAteer said.
For Cignetti, an agonizing day of special teams mistakes ended with the most improbable success. McAteer’s make as the clock hit zero sent the game to overtime, and the Hoosiers pulled out a miraculous come from behind win, 23-16.
“As soon as he hit it I knew it was good,” Cignetti said. …. “My man Paddy drills that field goal right down right down the middle.”
McAteer said he dreamed as a child of making kicks like that, even if the Mullaghbawn, Ireland product grew up imagining the Gaelic football variety.
This American football kick will be hard to top.
“I don’t think there’s going to be many better than that to be honest with you,” McAteer said.
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