HoosierIllustrated Live Blog: FINAL – Indiana football 41, Northwestern 24

Indiana football heads into week 6 of the season as the No. 23rd ranked team in the country while also being one of the few unbeaten teams that currently stand. For this week, the Hoosiers travel to Northwestern to face the Wildcats.

Indiana enters the matchup with a national ranking in the AP and Coaches Poll for the first time since Week 1 of the 2021 season.

Indiana football is coming off a big win last week over Maryland which saw them improve to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Maryland currently is 2-2 on the year and winless in the conference (0-1)

Kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

Below is the full, live running blog of today’s game.

Pregame Notes: 

Availability Report:

First Quarter

Indiana football with the ball to open the game.

Hoosiers start by marching down the field. Rourke finds Sarratt for a 29-yard completion.

Indiana goes for it on 4th down but a short pass to Cross is not good enough. Hoosiers open the game with a turnover on downs.

Indiana’s defense gets a stop and forces Northwestern to punt. Hoosiers with the ball on the IU11.

Rourke eats a sack and Indiana football is forced to punt.

Curt Cignetti was right. This is going to be a physical game. Nothing is going to be easy for both teams.

Indiana’s defense forces another punt. Hoosiers get the ball at the IU11 again.

Touchdown Indiana football! Rushing TD from Justice Ellison. Hoosiers take the early 7-0 lead in the 1Q.

Indiana called with a face mask on the kickoff. Northwestern gets good field position on their next drive. Start on the NU47.

End 1Q: Indiana football 7, Northwestern 0

Second Quarter

Northwestern ties it up to start the 2Q. 7-7 with 8:48 to go in the half.

Need a big response from the Indiana football offense here. Northwestern has the slight momentum now.

Two strong runs from Indiana football RB Kaelon Black to open up this next drive.

What a catch Mile Cross! Indiana goes for it on 4th down and it results in the 7-yard TD from Cross. Just beautiful. Hoosiers up 14-7 with 4:28 left in the half.

Sideline warning on Northwestern. Their first of the of the game. They followed up with another false start.

If this Indiana defense can get just one big stop or turnover, Indiana could run away with this one.

Indiana’s defense forces Northwestern into a FG and they convert. Indiana leads 14-10 with 1:08 left in the half.

EJ Williams hauls in 37-yard completion. Good for him.

Northwestern holds Indiana football to FG and the Hoosiers convert. Indiana goes into the half up seven.

At the half: Indiana football 17, Northwestern 10

Third Quarter

Northwestern with the ball to start the second half. They open up with a easy first down.

Makail Kamara with a big sack and forces a Northwestern punt. IU with the ball on their own 13.

Hoosiers are rolling now. 13-yard TD from Rourke to Ke’Shawn Williams. Indiana football leads 24-10.

Indiana’s defense would let up a 38-yard TD. Indiana’s lead cut down to just 7 with 3:13 left in the 3Q.

Ke’Shawn Williams with a massive 52-yard completion to set up first and goal for Indiana football.

End EQ: Indiana football 24, Northwestern 17

Fourth Quarter

Northwestern forces Indiana football into a FG. The Hoosiers nail it, however. Indiana football leads 27-17 with 14:54 left to go.

Indiana had a chance to force a FG from Northwestern but got call for a pass interference. Northwestern would get a TD. Indiana’s lead is just 27-24 with 11:19 left.

Indiana’s back is against the wall for the first time this season. We are going to find out what this team is all about the rest of the way through.

1-yard rush from Ty Son Lawton and Indiana is back up by 10. 4:56 left.

Indiana’s defense steps up and forces Northwestern to turn the ball over on downs. That may do it.

Rourke finds Sarratt for 27 yards. Indiana looking to score again.

Rourke ends up finding TE Zach Horton for a 4-yard TD. and Indiana leads 41-24.

Final: Indiana football 41, Northwestern 24

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