No. 2 Indiana shook off a sluggish start and rolled past Wisconsin 31-7 on Saturday, using a dominant second half to secure the first 11-0 record in school history.
Fernando Mendoza delivered another Heisman-worthy performance, completing 22 of 24 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns. Three of those scores came after halftime, when coach Curt Cignetti urged his team to “relax and have fun” following a tight, uneven first half. The message worked.
Indiana (11-0, 8-0 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) outscored Wisconsin 21-0 after the break and allowed just 23 second-half yards.
Mendoza briefly exited after taking a hard hit but returned to break the program’s single-season passing-touchdown record with a fourth-quarter strike to Omar Cooper Jr.
True freshman quarterback Carter Smith made his first start for Wisconsin (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) and threw a 45-yard touchdown to Lance Mason, but the Badgers couldn’t generate offense after halftime. They also lost running back Gideon Ituka to a concerning injury in the third quarter.
Indiana can clinch its first Big Ten title game berth and likely a second straight playoff appearance with a win next week at Purdue.
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