2002: \nIU Loses to Iowa 24-8\nThe Hoosiers lost to 15th-ranked Iowa to go 3-4 on the season after a game of missed opportunities. IU quarterback Gibran Hamdan threw two interceptions with good field position in the first half, while wide receiver Courtney Roby dropped a pass downfield. Trailing 17-0 at halftime, the Hoosiers managed to put up two field goals and a safety in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to beat an Iowa team that would go on to finish eight in The Associated Press Top 25 poll.\n"We got what we deserved. We \nprobably could have played better. We’ll move on. We’ll press on. We need to get ready for Illinois. It’s like I tell them, after the wins and after the losses, we need to move on."\n– Former IU coach Gerry DiNardo
2003: \nIU loses to \nNorthwestern 37-31 in overtime\nHaving not won a Big Ten game since the 2002 conference opener against Wisconsin, IU looked to have a chance to beat Northwestern. IU got the ball first in overtime and advanced to the 13-yard line before Matt LoVecchio’s pass to Travis Haney was intercepted in the end zone. Northwestern scored to put the Hoosiers at 1-6 on the season.
2004: \nIU comes back to beat Minnesota 30-21\nThe Hoosiers fought back from a 14-point deficit to upset the 23rd-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers and get their first Big Ten win of the year. Running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who later transferred to Mississippi, ran for 110 yards including a 27-yard touchdown to seal the win in the fourth quarter. The Hoosiers would go on to lose their last three games of the season, and the Homecoming win would be the last Hoosier victory for IU coach Gerry DiNardo.\n"We had a halftime lead against Michigan State and we couldn’t hold it. There have been other times when we haven’t played as well in the second half as we did in the first half. To me, that was the big positive today."\n – Former IU coach Gerry DiNardo
2005: \nIU rolls over Illinois 36-13\nSophomore quarterback Blake Powers broke the IU single-season touchdown passing record as the Hoosiers beat the Fighting Illini 36-13. Powers threw four touchdowns, including two to freshman James Hardy, to take his total to 18 on the season, eclipsing Antwaan Randle-El’s six-year-old record. Running back Chris Taylor piled up 132 rushing yards on 18 carries, and the Hoosier defense held the Illini to just 3 points in the second half.\n"The linemen, the receivers, \neverybody was on the same page and everybody was doing their job. That is our style of football. If we go out there and do what we are supposed to do, then we can (succeed) every game."\n– Running back Chris Taylor
2006: \nIU downs Michigan State 46-21\nThe Hoosiers reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2001 in a huge 46-21 win over Michigan State. Freshman Kellen Lewis, in his first season as quarterback, threw for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth, while James Hardy caught a school-record-breaking four touchdowns. Michigan State scored on its first possession, but IU scored all 46 points unanswered, until the Spartans ran for a touchdown with 10:37 left in the fourth quarter. \n"We scored first last week and I said, ‘I think we made Ohio State mad.’ Well, (Michigan State) made us mad today, because after that I really liked the way our defense stepped up and really played hard and played well."\n– Late IU football coach Terry Hoeppner\nSource: www.IUhoosiers.com
