New IU football coach Curt Cignetti came out guns blazing, announcing on his second day on the job “Purdue sucks, but so does Michigan and Ohio State.”
A year later he’d have his first Hoosier squad in the College Football Playoff. Along the way, the 2024 season would become one of the most entertaining and successful in program history.
Indiana opened the 2024 campaign with a 31-7 win over Florida International. It was a solid win but would be their least impressive victory of the season. Penalties and pass protection mishaps held back the IU offense. There were no signs of an elite team yet, but those signs would be coming very soon.
In week two Indiana scored their most points ever in a game — a record that stood for 123 years — defeating Western Illinois 77-3. Indiana also reached a new record in total yards on the night with 701.
Week three was an opportunity for Indiana to prove themselves as they traveled to UCLA for their Big Ten opener. And they did just that. The Hoosiers scored a touchdown on their first drive, and then recovered a UCLA fumble on the Bruins’ first play from scrimmage. With a short field, the Hoosiers scored again quickly, claiming a 14-0 lead with 7:28 left in the first quarter. From there UCLA was on their heels. The Bruins would only amass 248 yards for the game, as Indiana cruised 42-13 and moved to 3-0.
The IU offense was the story in a week four win over Charlotte. The Hoosiers scored on their first seven drives, all 47 yards or more. They scored 35 unanswered points to close out the game, a 52-14 win over the 49ers.
Wanting to inject some life in the stands, Cignetti wrote a letter to the student body that they should “study later,” and stay for the whole game as Big Ten play resumed against Maryland.
Indiana played the first four games without committing a turnover, but things changed dramatically in week five, a rain soaked affair in Bloomington against the Terps. Kurtis Rourke threw two first half interceptions, and Kaelon Black fumbled before the break as well. But Indiana’s defense delivered 3-and-outs on each ensuing drive.
Maryland tied the game at 21 with a 75 yard run by Roman Hemby with 7:21 left in the third. But IU responded with touchdowns on their next two drives while stopping Maryland on each of their next two possessions. Overall, Indiana posted 21 unanswered points to take a 42-21 lead with 4:09 left in the game. They’d win it 42-28.
The Hoosiers entered the national rankings, and playing week six on the lakefront at Northwestern, Kurtis Rourke was surgical, completing 25-of-33 passes for 380 yards and 3 touchdowns. While the IU defense struggled at times, the Hoosiers were able to pull away, 41-24. Just six games into the season, IU was already bowl eligible.
With excitement building, Indiana’s final four home games sold out. The Hoosiers would go on to set a home season attendance record.
There was no rust coming off a bye week, as Indiana blitzed Nebraska right out of the gate. Indiana scored on their first drive of the game. Nebraska appeared ready to score on their second drive, but IU forced a fumble (one of five takeaways on the day) after Nebraska got into the red zone. And then came the offensive onslaught IU fans had seen all season. They posted consecutive TD drives of 88, 75, and 74 yards to take a 28-7 lead into halftime. It was more of the same in the second half as Indiana dominated, 56-7.
The 7-0 Hoosiers were flying high, but dealt some bad news as Rourke suffered a broken thumb against Nebraska and would have to miss at least one game. Tayven Jackson would start in his place, and the stakes could not have been higher, with ESPN College Gameday on site for a game against Washington.
Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds set the tone in the first quarter with a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown. It was one of two first half interceptions by the sophomore. With Rourke sidelined, Indiana needed to lean more on the running game. And the offensive line and backs responded. The Hoosiers ran 52 times for 188 yards. Justice Ellison had 123 of those yards. Indiana ran 52 times vs. 19 pass attempts. Indiana beat the Huskies 31-17 to move to 8-0.
Rourke returned after missing one game, and the Hoosiers trailed for the first time all year at East Lansing. But the Hoosiers reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon in week nine with another dominant effort, this time a 47-10 dismantling of Michigan State.
After allowing 10 points and 123 yards on Michigan State’s first two drives, the IU defense took over. The Hoosiers only allowed 82 yards the rest of the game. The Spartans had -24 net rushing yards for the entire game. Indiana had 15 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two interceptions.
In game 10 against Michigan, for the first time all season, IU had to gut out a win when the offense wasn’t clicking. The Hoosiers made enough plays in all phases to pull out a physical, low scoring 20-15 game where the offense only had 246 yards, and just 18 in the second half. But the defense kept forcing field goals, after the offense made some big plays in the first half.
For the first time in program history, the Hoosiers reached the 10 win mark, setting up a high profile top-5 matchup at Ohio State.
Indiana suffered major special teams blunders and struggled with pass protection while contending with crowd noise in Columbus. The game was tied just before halftime, but the IU offense only produced 151 yards and the Hoosiers suffered their first loss of the season, 38-15.
The battle for the Old Oaken Bucket was no contest, as Indiana destroyed Purdue 66-0. Indiana held Purdue to just 67 yards, just one more yard than IU had points. The Boilers had just five first downs for the entire game and only rushed for just 13 yards. The Hoosiers had two interceptions and forced three fumbles for a 5-0 turnover margin. While Purdue couldn’t move the ball, IU couldn’t be stopped. The Hoosiers rolled up 582 total yards, and picked up 30 first downs.
On Dec. 8 the 11-1 Hoosiers were selected to play in the College Football Playoff. Their reward was a road game at Notre Dame.
After a big 3rd and 14 pickup, Indiana was in the Notre Dame red zone early in the first quarter. But Kurtis Rourke threw an ill-advised pass into the hands of Irish safety Xavier Watts at the Notre Dame two yard line. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Jeremiyah Love ran 98 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. The Hoosiers never recovered from the stunning turn of events.
While the Hoosiers struggled to move the ball throughout the game, Notre Dame was able to sustain drives. The Irish won it, 27-17 to end Indiana’s historic season.
It was a disappointing end to a season that will never be forgotten.
Indiana’s 11 wins were their most in program history. With an impressive year one turnaround, Cignetti won all of the major national coach of the year honors.
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