Indiana Hoosiers Obliterate Record Books In Historic 73-0 Beatdown

Well, well, well. Just when you thought the Indiana Hoosiers couldn’t get any hotter, they went ahead and torched the record books like they were old love letters from their ex-girlfriend, Michigan. Friday night’s 73-0 demolition of Indiana State wasn’t just a win – it was a masterclass in football domination that had Memorial Stadium looking like a video game on rookie mode.

Look, we all knew this was going to be a mismatch. Indiana State rolling into Bloomington to face the red-hot Hoosiers? That’s like bringing a butter knife to a gunfight. But what happened on that field was something special – the kind of performance that makes you wonder if Head Coach Curt Cignetti has been secretly feeding his players some kind of magical corn from the Indiana fields.

Fernando Mendoza’s Near-Perfect Night Makes History

Let’s start with Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who had the kind of night that makes coaches wake up in cold sweats, wishing they had him under center. The redshirt junior completed 19 of 20 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns, setting a new Indiana Hoosiers single-game completion percentage record at 95%.

That one incompletion? It came early in the second quarter when pressure got to him near the goal line. Otherwise, Mendoza was threading needles like he was competing in a sewing contest at the state fair. His performance shattered Peyton Ramsey’s previous record of 92.9% completion percentage set back in 2019 against Eastern Illinois.

But here’s the kicker – Mendoza only played the first half. By the time he jogged to the sideline, the Hoosiers were already up 45-0, and the poor Sycamores looked like they’d rather be literally anywhere else on planet Earth.

Omar Cooper Jr. Ties Touchdown Reception Record

If Mendoza was the surgeon with the scalpel, then Omar Cooper Jr. was the patient who came out looking like a million bucks. The redshirt junior receiver caught four touchdown passes, tying James Hardy’s 2006 program record for most receiving touchdowns in a single game.

Cooper’s performance was absolutely bonkers – 10 receptions for 207 yards and those four scores. His longest touchdown was a 58-yard catch-and-run that had him dancing past defenders like he was at his high school prom. The guy has breakaway speed that would make a cheetah jealous and hands softer than a grandmother’s hug.

Three of his touchdowns came from Fernando Mendoza (13, 13, and 31 yards), while the fourth was a 58-yard bomb from backup Quarterback Alberto Mendoza in the second half. When you’re scoring touchdowns from both Mendoza brothers, you know it’s been a good night.

Indiana Hoosiers Set Historic Home Winning Streak

Here’s something that’ll make Indiana fans’ hearts flutter faster than a hummingbird on espresso – this victory extended the Hoosiers’ home winning streak to 11 games, setting a new program record. That’s right, folks, the Indiana Hoosiers haven’t lost at Memorial Stadium since Cignetti took over in 2024.

The previous record? Ten straight home wins under Bill Mallory from 1987-88. But this team has something special brewing in Bloomington, and opposing teams are starting to take notice. There’s something magical about this squad that has fans believing in something they haven’t felt in decades.

Records That Almost Fell

The Indiana Hoosiers came tantalizingly close to breaking several other records that would’ve had the statisticians working overtime. They scored 73 points but fell just four points short of their own record of 77 set against Western Illinois in 2024. The scoring margin of 73 points was three shy of their 76-point demolition of Franklin way back in 1901.

Their 680 yards of total offense were impressive, but still 21 yards short of the 701 they put up against Western Illinois. The defense was absolutely suffocating, allowing just five first downs and 77 total yards. They held Indiana State to just one first down through nearly three quarters – a performance that would make a defensive coordinator weep tears of joy.

The Indiana Hoosiers are now 3-0 and riding higher than a hot air balloon at the county fair. Next up? A primetime showdown against No. 9 Illinois on September 20 that’ll have the entire college football world watching. If this performance against Indiana State is any indication, that game might be appointment television.