EVANSTON, Ill. –– Kurtis Rourke walked between a sea of Hoosier fans, high-fiving perhaps the next generation of Indiana football players.
Curt Cignetti followed five steps behind. Walking into the locker room, the first-year Indiana head coach extended his left arm and pumped his fist.
The Hoosiers defeated Northwestern 41-24 just five minutes earlier, becoming bowl-eligible –– the first Football Bowl Subdivision team to do so this season.
And now, after just the second 6-0 start in program history, Cignetti is changing the way people think about Indiana football one game and one victory at a time.
“When you take over a program, the No. 1 thing you got to do is change the way people think,” Cignetti said postgame. “Change the way people think. The way you play the game, your expectation level, your standards, how you do things, the fan base –– what to expect. Got to change the way people think.”
With the Hoosiers’ victory Saturday at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, they’re doing just that.
For the second consecutive week, Indiana’s offense struggled on its first two possessions. Against Maryland, Rourke tossed two interceptions. It wasn’t turnovers this week, but a slow start as neither drive resulted in points.
After turning the ball over on downs and going three-and-out, the Hoosiers scored on the rest of their seven possessions –– five touchdowns and two field goals. Rourke went on to finish 25 of 33 for 380 yards and three touchdowns.
“Just needed to take a deep breath and just do what we practiced, do what we’ve done,” Rourke said postgame. “And, you know, one of the biggest emphasis moving forward for myself especially, is to just start faster, start better, and kind of have those drives that we did in the last seven and hopefully make long touchdown drives.”
When Indiana racked up four turnovers a week ago, the Hoosiers’ defense stepped up. They didn’t allow a first down in the ensuing drives. This week, however, the roles were reversed.
Northwestern scored on four of its drives –– three touchdowns and a field goal. In each of the Hoosiers’ following offensive possessions, they responded with points. Two touchdowns –– one passing and one rushing –– and two field goals.
“It’s just more adversity moments that we knew were coming and we needed to be ready for,” Rourke said. “But I think a big thing today was we had the defense’s back just like they had ours last week when we turned the ball over so many times.”
Indiana football teams of the past might’ve laid down. The Hoosiers might’ve faltered like they did against Illinois on Nov. 11, 2023, when the contest turned into a back-and-forth one with seven lead changes.
But in 2024, Indiana football isn’t the same Indiana football it’s been previously.
This one leans on experience. Of the Hoosiers’ 22 starters, 12 of them are at least seniors –– some being sixth and seventh-year seniors like Rourke and running back Ty Son Lawton.
And with the experience comes victories. At least for Cignetti-led teams.
“This is culture and mindset,” Cignetti said. “These are guys that came from championship programs that have now won 20 of their last 21 games. A lot of other transfers, they come from good programs. And the guys that stayed had a chip on their shoulder and something to prove.”
So now, sitting at 6-0 and ranked No. 23, the perception around Indiana isn’t the same as it’s always been. Take ESPN’s College GameDay for example. Pat McAfee said it’s “marvelous” and “stupendous” that the Hoosiers entered Saturday undefeated, explaining there’s a real chance GameDay ends up in Bloomington this season.
While the outside noise continues to ramp up, the Hoosiers are focused on the next game. It’s always the next game, not any of the six they’ve won so far.
“It’s great to be 6-0, especially going into the bye week, we can definitely enjoy it,” redshirt junior defensive lineman Mikail Kamara said. “But once we come back, we’ve got to go and start over with Nebraska and keep the ball rolling. This is not a roll — this is fantastic, but this is not the end.”
Cignetti led the Hoosiers to their first 6-0 start since 1967. He’s also set the standard in Bloomington, according to Sarratt, and is holding his squad to it.
“It’s keeping everybody to buy in, and just got to go about that on a daily basis,” Sarratt said.
So far, Indiana is remaining bought in. With the regular season now halfway over, there’s still six games left to determine whether the Hoosiers will remain focused on their weekly task.
But for now, Cignetti is revered by the Hoosier faithful as he led the mass of crimson in the north end zone stands in a “Go IU” chant just minutes after taking down the Wildcats.
Follow reporters Daniel Flick (@ByDanielFlick) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Jhett Garrett (@jhettgarrett) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
