Indiana football’s historic season was full of memorable moments.
The Hoosiers captured their first-ever national championship and became the first team since the 1890s to finish 16-0. The Daily Hoosier has compiled our list of the top 10 plays and moments from IU’s march to the title. If you missed any previous posts in this series, check them out at the links below.
No. 9: Indiana doesn’t budge at the Rose Bowl
Indiana and Alabama got off to a cagey start in the Rose Bowl. Both teams punted on their first possessions, and then IU had to settle for a field goal after a long drive spanning more than half of the first quarter.
But early in the second quarter, with the score still 3-0, Indiana showed how prepared it was for this game. Alabama lined up in a wildcat formation on fourth-and-1 at its own 34-yard line, prompting a timeout from IU. The Crimson Tide came back in a punt formation, with quarterback Ty Simpson curiously lined up as a blocker. They shifted mid-play and brought Simpson under center, trying to draw the Hoosiers offside. But they weren’t fooled, and Alabama burned a timeout.
After all of that, the Tide went back to the wildcat, and ran a jet sweep pitch play to Germie Bernard. It didn’t work; Indiana’s defense swarmed to the ball and made the stop. That gave IU’s offense great field position, which eventually led to a Charlie Becker touchdown (featured in our honorable mentions).
That sequence by IU’s defense and special teams proved a tone-shifter in this game. The Hoosiers knew they were a step ahead of their opponents after that. And Curt Cignetti’s reactions throughout these plays became a lasting image of IU’s run to the championship.
The video below has the full game on YouTube, but takes you to the beginning of this key moment in the Rose Bowl.
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