Indiana football lost to the No. 8 ranked University of Cincinnati 38-24 in front of a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are now 1-2 on the season.
After the Hoosiers took an early 14-0 lead, senior linebacker Micah McFadden was ejected in the second quarter for targeting on a third down, extending the Bearcats drive and setting up a touchdown. Redshirt junior quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw an interception on the ensuing Indiana possession which set Cincinnati up for a field goal before halftime, cutting the deficit to 14-10.
Penix completed 17 of 40 passing attempts for 224 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Down by 6 points in the fourth quarter, Indiana drove the ball to the Cincinnati two yard line, before redshirt junior running back Davion Ervin-Poindexter fumbled, giving the ball back to Cincinnati.
Penix threw an interception on Indiana’s second-to-last drive which sealed the Hoosiers’ fate.
Indiana will hit the road next week to face Western Kentucky University at 8:00 p.m Sept. 25 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Instant recap by Patrick Felts
FOURTH QUARTER
:00: Indiana loses to Cincinnati, 38-24.
TOUCHDOWN: Ridder takes it in himself from seven yards out. Cincinnati 38, Indiana 24.
INTERCEPTION: Penix tries to make a play on third and long and is picked off for the third time today. The return takes it back to Indiana's six-yard line.
4:35: Cincinnati takes four minutes off the clock before Indiana forces a punt. Indiana will take over at its 35-yard line.
FUMBLE: Baldwin fumbles at Cincinnati's four-yard line and the Bearcats recover. Indiana is 3-6 in red zone trips today.
10:10: Indiana's drive looked to be stalling after six plays before running back Davion Ervin-Poindexter found a hole for 37-yards.
TOUCHDOWN: Ridder completes a 19-yard pass for his first passing touchdown of the day. Cincinnati 30, Indiana 24.
The Bearcats' drive is extended by a roughing the passer call on Thomas Allen.
15:00: Cincinnati finished the third quarter with two rushes for 11 yards. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Bearcats will have the ball at their 36.
THIRD QUARTER
FIELD GOAL: Charles Campbell converts a 49-yard field goal attempt. The Hoosiers moved back into the lead after Cincinnati's missed PAT. Indiana 24, Cincinnati 23.
TOUCHDOWN: The ensuing kick off is returned 99 yards by Cincinnati's Tre Tucker. The PAT hits off the left upright and is no good. Cincinnati 23, Indiana 21.
TOUCHDOWN: Indiana drives 75 yards in 1:55 to take back the lead. The drive was capped by a 14-yard rush from Matthews on a pitch play after a fake handoff to Baldwin. Indiana 21, Cincinnati 17.
5:07: Penix finds a wide-open Matthews for a 44-yard completion, Penix's longest of the year. After an eight-yard pass to tight end Matt Bjorson, Indiana is back in the red zone.
TOUCHDOWN: Cincinnati makes a field goal but Indiana is called for a penalty. The Bearcats convert on the fourth down try and score two plays later. Cincinnati 17, Indiana 14.
9:09: Cincinnati nearly fumbles the snap, but Ridder recovers and runs for a 26-yard gain into Indiana territory.
11:13: Cincinnati's 50-yard field goal attempt hits the left upright and is no good. Indiana takes over at its own 32-yard line.
13:18: Indiana creates nothing on its first drive of the half, and the punt is returned 27 yards to Indiana's 30 yard line.
15:00: After deferring the coin toss, Indiana will start the second half with the ball at the 15-yard line.
SECOND QUARTER
FIELD GOAL: Cincinnati can't convert on two throws to the end zone at the end of the half, but a field goal cuts into its deficit. Indiana 14, Cincinnati 10.
INTERCEPTION: Penix tries to make a play to avoid being sacked and is picked off by the Bearcats. Cincinnati has 27 seconds left with the ball on Indiana's 46.
1:33: Cincinnati's kick off goes out of bounds and Indiana will take over at its 35-yard line near the end of the half.
TOUCHDOWN: After the targeting penalty, Cincinnati drives 75 yards and scores on a 5-yard rush. Indiana 14, Cincinnati 7.
Micah McFadden has been ejected from the game for targeting.
TOUCHDOWN: Penix rolls left and connects with Stephen Carr on a five-yard touchdown. Indiana has 14 points off turnovers after the last fumble. Indiana 14, Cincinnati 0.
FUMBLE: Cincinnati drove over 30 yards before Ryder Anderson sacked Ridder, forcing a fumble. Cincinnati tried to pick the ball up, but it was knocked out and Micah McFadden recovered at Cincinnati's six-yard line.
INTERCEPTION: Penix's throw to Hendershot is picked off in the end zone. Cincinnati will start with the ball at the 10-yard line after a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
10:22: Penix and Matthews connect for a 28-yard completion, moving into Cincinnati territory at the 27-yard line.
11:36: After the first down, Cincinnati's drive stalls and it punts. Indiana takes over at its 33-yard line.
13:21: Ridder picks up Cincinnati's first first down of the game on a 7-yard outside run.
14:09: Penix's quarterback sneak on fourth and one is stopped. Indiana turns the ball over on downs and Cincinnati starts at its 10-yard line.
15:00: Indiana starts the second quarter with the ball on Cincinnati's 11-yard line.
FIRST QUARTER
00:00: Indiana has spent just under five minutes on its current drive, moving 57 yards on 11 plays into the red zone. Miles Marshall had an 11-yard catch and Tim Baldwin had a 10-yard run.
5:24: Cam Jones chases down Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and forces an incompletion on third down. The Bearcats go three and out again and the Hoosiers take over at their own 32-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN: Indiana opens the scoring on a 16-yard completion to senior tight end Peyton Hendershot. The six-play, 50-yard drive took 2:22. Indiana 7, Cincinnati 0.
6:39: A seven-yard rush from Tim Baldwin Jr. is the second first down of the day after a 14-yard run from D.J. Matthews earlier in the drive.
INTERCEPTION: Senior husky Marcelino McCrary-Ball intercepts a tipped pass, Indiana's first interception on the year. Indiana takes over at midfield.
9:42: Indiana goes three and out again. Neither team has a first down after two possessions.
11:38: Cincinnati gets called for another false start, Indiana's defense gets a stop on a third down pass and the Hoosiers get the ball back. They take over at their own 26.
12:48: Junior quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throws two incompletions and Indiana is forced to punt. The only rush lost a yard.
13:32: Indiana's defense forces a three and out with help from a Cincinnati false start. Indiana starts the offense at its own 32-yard line.
15:00: Jared Smolar's kick for Indiana is returned by Cincinnati to the 19-yard line.
KICKOFF: Indiana wins the coin toss and chooses to defer to the second half. Cincinnati will receive the kickoff to begin the game.
Live updates by Evan Gerike
