Indiana Survives Shocking Opening Minute of Season  

The Indiana Hoosiers opened their 2025 season with more drama than anyone expected at Memorial Stadium. What looked like it might be a comfortable victory turned into a nail-biter before the Hoosiers finally put away Old Dominion 27-14 on Saturday afternoon. Coach Curt Cignetti preached urgency all week leading up to this opener, but his team came out flat against the Monarchs. The result was a game that felt far closer than the final score suggested, exposing some serious concerns heading into conference play.

Indiana Does Not look like the team that made CFP last year 

The nightmare began just 11 seconds into the season. Old Dominion quarterback Colton Joseph took the opening snap and raced 75 yards straight up the middle for a touchdown that stunned the late-arriving crowd. The defense looked completely unprepared for Joseph’s speed, missing tackles and assignments on what should have been a routine play. That early score marked something Indiana fans hadn’t experienced since Week 9 of last season with their team trailing in a game. The Hoosiers went undefeated through eight games in 2024 before falling to Ohio State, making this early deficit feel even more jarring.

Key Moments and Performances in the Game

The key Indiana plays and players that defined the outcome:

• Jonathan Brady’s 91-yard punt return touchdown tied the game 7-7 in the final seconds of the first quarter. 
• QB Fernando Mendoza used his 6-foot-5 frame to punch in a 5-yard rushing score, showing the mobility his teammates raved about during preseason. 
• Three defensive interceptions – Amare Ferrell, Louis Moore, and D’Angelo Ponds each came up with picks. 
• Roman Hemby carried 20 times for 110 yards, his eighth career 100-yard performance, wearing down the Old Dominion defense
• Joseph’s second long touchdown run – The ODU quarterback broke free for 78 yards with 6:53 remaining, cutting the lead to two scores and making things uncomfortable for the home team

Red Zone Struggles Expose Glaring Weakness

Perhaps the most concerning aspect of Indiana’s performance was its inability to finish drives near the goal line. The Hoosiers managed just two touchdowns in six trips inside the 10-yard line – a stark contrast to their dominant 92.8% red zone scoring percentage from 2024. The most painful sequence came early when Indiana had three straight rushing attempts stuffed at the 1-yard line before throwing an incompletion on fourth down. Running backs were stopped for no gain or worse on eight red zone attempts, with five of those coming at the 1-yard line. That kind of inefficiency won’t cut it against Big Ten competition, where every scoring opportunity becomes precious.

Mendoza Shows Promise Despite Uneven Debut

Fernando Mendoza’s first start as Indiana’s quarterback delivered mixed results. The former Cal signal-caller completed 19 of 32 passes for 193 yards, but much of his production came on short sideline routes rather than downfield strikes. His best throw of the day was a beautiful 50-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. that bounced off the receiver’s hands. Mendoza also showed accuracy issues in the first half, going just 9 of 18 for 74 yards while barely avoiding interceptions on throws into traffic. The positive? Mendoza displayed the mobility that made him attractive to Cignetti’s staff, scrambling effectively and scoring his first touchdown on the ground in Indiana.

Defense Rebounds After Early Disaster

After allowing Joseph’s opening touchdown run, defensive coordinator Bryant Haines made crucial adjustments. The unit held Old Dominion to just one first down and 23 total yards in the third quarter, completely shutting down the Monarchs’ offensive rhythm. The secondary came up with three interceptions, including a crucial pick by Louis Moore, the player currently suing the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility. All three picks helped Indiana maintain field position and momentum. However, Joseph’s second long touchdown run exposed the same gap-control issues that plagued the defense early. Giving up two runs of 70-plus yards in one game equals what Indiana allowed during the entire 2024 regular season.