Indiana Beats Wisconsin To Make History With Best Start In Program History

In a game that felt more like a battle than a typical Big Ten matchup, the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten) delivered a powerful win over the Wisconsin Badgers (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten), securing a 31-7 victory and making history with the best start in program history.

But let’s be real, this wasn’t the cakewalk the four-touchdown spread suggested. The first half was a grind, a slobberknocker that had Hoosier Nation sweating bullets with a slim 10-7 lead. You could almost hear the collective gasp in Bloomington. Was this the trap game we all feared?

Then came halftime. Whatever Coach Curt Cignetti said in that locker room worked. The Hoosiers came out looking like a completely different team, energized and focused after a slow start. They took control, and Wisconsin’s offense suddenly had no answers.

Mendoza’s Masterclass: A Heisman Moment?

Let’s talk about Fernando Mendoza. The man was simply surgical. He went 22-for-24 for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns. That’s not a stat line; that’s a work of art. While the Badgers’ defense managed to sack him five times—making his offensive line look a bit like a screen door on a submarine—Mendoza stood tall.

With those four TDs, Mendoza didn’t just win a game; he shattered a record, setting a new single-season benchmark for passing touchdowns at Indiana with 30. He leapfrogged Kurtis Rourke’s record from last season, basically telling the history books to make some room. His performance was so clean you could eat off it. Heisman candidate? The conversation is no longer a whisper; it’s a roar.

The Tale Of Two Halves

The second half was a completely different story. Indiana’s offense exploded for 229 yards and three touchdowns, while the defense put the clamps on Wisconsin so tight they could barely breathe. The Badgers managed a pathetic 23 yards of offense after halftime. Twenty-three! I’ve seen longer drives to the refrigerator for a midnight snack. Wisconsin Quarterback Carter Smith, who had a moment of glory with a 45-yard TD pass in the second quarter, completed just two passes for seven yards in the entire second half. Ouch.

The turning point? A forced fumble by Stephen Daley, recovered by Hosea Wheeler, set Indiana up on the Wisconsin 21-yard line. Moments later, former Badger Riley Nowakowski twisted the knife, catching a short pass and rumbling 21 yards for a touchdown against his old squad. You can’t write a better script than that.

Walking Wounded: The Bye Week Can’t Come Soon Enough

This victory came at a cost. The Hoosiers are looking more like a MAS*H unit than a football team. The injury bug has been feasting on this roster. Already missing key players, they lost starting edge rusher Mikail Kamara in the first half to an apparent injury. He joined a long list of hobbled Hoosiers on the sideline.

The upcoming bye week isn’t just a break; it’s a lifeline. This team is battered, bruised, and in desperate need of some rest and recovery before they face their archrival, Purdue, in the Old Oaken Bucket game.

Becker’s Big Breakout

In the midst of the injury chaos, a star is born. With receiver Elijah Sarratt sidelined, sophomore Charlie Becker has stepped up massively. Following a huge game against Penn State, he torched the Badgers’ secondary for five catches, 108 yards, and a beautiful 31-yard touchdown. As Coach Cignetti aptly put it, “Like Lou Gehrig stepped in for Wally Pipp, Becker’s making big plays.” At 6-foot-4, he’s becoming Mendoza’s favorite new target, a go-to guy when the team needs it most.

As the dust settles in Bloomington, the Hoosiers stand undefeated, one win away from a perfect season. It wasn’t always pretty, but championship teams find ways to win, even on their off days. And right now, Indiana looks every bit the part of a champion.