This is not your grandmother's Indiana Hoosiers team, folks. Entering Saturday's game on the road against Oregon, Indiana was 9.5-point underdogs and won 30-20.
Oregon's 18-game home win streak was snapped by Indiana on Saturday in what was by far the biggest win in Indiana school history. It marked the first-ever top-five road win for the Hoosiers, who prior to head coach Curt Cignetti's arrival had just one win over a top-five opponent.
Let's take a look at how Indiana got it done on the road, and what's left for the Hoosiers this season.
Indiana's defense comes up big
For most of this season, the story surrounding the Hoosiers was their high-powered offense, led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The Hoosiers entered ranked No. 4 overall in scoring offense, averaging 47.8 points per game. But the story of the day on Saturday was actually Indiana's defense.
The Hoosiers picked off potential Heisman candidate Dante Moore twice, and held Oregon to just 64 yards in the second half entirely. Coming into Saturday's game, Moore had thrown just one interception all season.
Oregon finished with just 81 total yards rushing on the day.
MORE: Drew Allar injury update: Latest news on Penn State QB after being carted off field vs. Northwestern
Curt Cignetti vs. Top 25 teams
After Saturday's victory over the Ducks, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is now 2-2 vs. Top 25 teams with the Hoosiers. Indiana steamrolled No. 9 Illinois earlier this season, 63-10. Last season, the Hoosiers lost to both ranked opponents they faced, in No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
After the win, Cignetti talked about using those two losses as motivation heading into this season wanting to beat a ranked team like Oregon:
"Our guys had a sour taste in their mouth. I certainly did."@IndianaFootball's Curt Cignetti on bouncing back after losing to Ohio State and Notre Dame last season pic.twitter.com/PUBtR05jU3
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 11, 2025
The craziest stat of the day? Entering Saturday's game, Indiana was 1-72 all-time against Top-Five opponents, and 0-46 in road games vs. Top-Five teams. Cignetti was apparently emotional when talking about what the win means for Hoosier fans:
Curt Cignetti a little emotional when asked about all of the fan support that is very loud outside his press conference. "I'm very happy for all the fans." #iufb
— Mike Schumann @ The Daily Hoosier (@daily_hoosier) October 11, 2025
In just two short seasons, Cignetti has completely turned this program around. With his "Google Me" quotes and infectious confidence, he's helped implement a winning culture within Indiana that the program has never seen. Before Cignetti's arrival, the Hoosiers saw just eight winning seasons since1985. In two years, Cignetti has turned Indiana into a legitimate playoff contender in back-to-back years.
He's heavily utilized both the transfer portal successfully as well. His last two quarterbacks in Kurtis Rourke and Mendoza both came from the portal, as did running back Roman Hemby, who scored touchdowns against the Ducks. Hoosier leading receiver Elijah Sarratt followed him last offseason from James Madison, too.
Indiana remaining schedule
The Hoosiers should be favored in each of its next remaining games on the schedule. As things stand currently, Indiana does not play another ranked opponent this season. Here's a look at what's next:
- Michigan State, Oct. 18
- vs. UCLA, Oct. 25
- at Maryland, Nov. 1
- at Penn State, Nov. 8
- vs. Wisconsin, Nov. 15
- vs. Purdue, Nov. 28
Given Indiana's remaining schedule, the Hoosiers look to have the inside track to both the Big Ten title game and College Football Playoff.
The win is just another remarkable one for Cignetti, who deserves all the credit for a historic road win for this Indiana program. Last season in his first season in Bloomington, he brought Indiana its first-ever 11-win season in school history. A 12 or 13-win year just might not be that far out of reach of this Indiana team keeps playing like this.
Enjoy this one, Hoosier fans.
MORE: Ohio State's defense flexes against Illinois: Why Buckeyes are on historic pace through six games