Indiana football demolishes Nebraska 56-7, moves to 7-0

The Hoosiers are for real, folks.

With the chance to bring Indiana’s lead down to 14 and breathe life into a Nebraska team teetering on the edge, freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola dropped back just under 15 yards away from the Hoosiers’ endzone and surveyed the field.

He had his target. Everyone looking his way knew where he was about to go with the football.

Including Shawn Asbury II.

The Hoosiers’ offense got set up roughly where the Huskers had been on the other side of the field. Only Indiana’s quarterback, Tayven Jackson, found the endzone with a throw to Miles Cross to extend the lead to 35-7.

Many from national media, opposing fanbases and even members of the Hoosier faithful had spoken poorly of Indiana’s schedule in the leadup to this game. Accusations of a 6-0 record being merely the product of soft slate.

Nebraska was a true test, it was said.

As storied a college football program as almost any in the nation and with a new head coach and 5-star phenom at quarterback, the Huskers seemed poised to provide Indiana with that test probably until about that moment.

That famed defense, The Blackshirts, hadn’t allowed a single rushing touchdown to any of Nebraska’s six prior opponents. The Hoosiers promptly rushed for five, including opening up scoring with one in the first quarter.

That score, by the way, held the lead for the remainder of the game. Indiana remains just one of two teams in college football to not spend even a single second of any game trailing this season.

56-7. Fifty-six to seven. Indiana over Nebraska.

Tell that to someone about twenty years ago and they’d assume Bob Knight decided to prove some kind of defensive point on a cold night in November. But no, it’s football. Curt Cignetti football.

This win likely all but locks up Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for Cignetti given that Nebraska’s Matt Rhule was probably his most substantial competition for the award. That’s not what he’s going for in Bloomington, but it’d make a nice little trophy in his office.

And finally, Bloomington. Oh, Bloomington.

You’ll hardly find a more quintessential midwestern college town. It delivered today, with students and alumni alike turning out in droves from the wee hours of the morning. Thanks to the Hoosiers, they’ll be celebrating until the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

Seasons like this do not come along every so often. Do yourself a favor: dwell not on the future. Your feet, and the Hoosiers, are right here and now. And now feels pretty darn good.

So head on out, pick up some Shalooby’s and enjoy the night.