The future is here
Saturday night’s contest between Indiana and UCLA was a night of firsts.
UCLA’s first game in the new Big Ten. The first conference game for both head coaches, DeShaun Foster and Curt Cignetti. The first true test of the season for each program.
The best thing you can say about Indiana’s performance last night was that it looked like a well-oiled machine. From the opening drive to the last snap, the Hoosiers were firing on all cylinders, moving the ball like they have at home against non-power conference opponents.
The defense also came up big, forcing a fumble on UCLA’s first drive that gave Indiana a chance to take the 14-0 lead. After the Bruins’ second half field goal, when their offense threatened to get some momentum, the Hoosiers came up with an interception to put the game on ice.
Here are three things we learned:
Timelines
Indiana football appears to be Good now. This isn’t to say there won’t be stumbles down the line, but this is clearly a faster rebuild than many anticipated.
Just look at the line from yesterday’s game. Even after setting multiple program records against Western Illinois, Indiana wasn’t given a touchdown against a UCLA team that struggled against Hawaii in week one.
As they have in three consecutive weeks now, Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers exceeded expectations. On both sides of the ball, Indiana had a clear game plan that it was able to execute to perfection.
Indiana’s first play from scrimmage was a 23-yard strike from Kurtis Rourke to Myles Price. 11 plays later, he found Miles Cross for a three yard completion in the end zone.
Then the defense came out and forced a fumble on UCLA’s first play, it took three plays and 53 seconds of game time for Rourke to throw his second touchdown pass of the day. Indiana never led by fewer than 10 points from that point on.
Cignetti looks like he will be the coach of the future for Indiana, but he has also made the Hoosiers competitive in the present. It’s time to start adjusting expectations accordingly.
Weapons
Indiana had five receivers catch three or more passes for at least 10 yards per catch. Zach Horton also caught four passes for 31 yards. The backfield combined for 29 carries and 123 yards, if you include Rourke’s seven yard scramble on the opening drive.
The passing game will continue to steal the show with big plays downfield, but this is a balanced offensive attack that is going to continue to overwhelm defenses with the sheer number of playmakers available.
Notably absent from the box score was Donaven McCulley, who was targeted in the end zone early but couldn’t bring in the touchdown in tight coverage.
Going forward, expect Rourke to continue having plenty of options in Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., Ke’Shawn Williams, Miles Cross, and Myles Price. Throw Justice Ellison and Ty Son Lawton into the mix as running threats, and this is a high-powered offense.
Execution
Probably the most impressive thing about this Indiana team so far is the way that it’s been able to keep its foot on the gas at all times.
Up 14-0 in the opening minutes, it would have been easy for the Hoosiers to get lazy and take a few drives off. The officiating wasn’t helping either.
Cignetti has made clear that this team is held to a different standard, though, and this attitude comes through in his play calling. On fourth and six on UCLA’s 33, Indiana went for it up two scores in the first half.
Again, this season will not remain perfect (I think?), but this is a group that is not going to balk at the opportunities it gets. I would call them a threat to upset the upper echelon of the conference, but who’s to say Indiana won’t be favored when the time comes?