FOOTBALL

Indiana football didn’t just win on Friday, It dominated — as it should. Now, it’s using it as a ‘confidence boost’ heading into first real test

Indiana football made easy work of Friday’s opponent, to no surprise. Now it’s about building on that momentum moving forward.

Published

1 week ago

September 7, 2024

Alec Lasley

Indiana football made easy work of Friday's opponent, to no surprise. Now it's about building on that momentum moving forward. (Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times-USA TODAY NETWORK)

There’s no surprise at the outcome of Indiana football’s week two matchup against FCS Western Illinois. But there could be a discussion regarding the way Indiana played. There’s not typically much you can take from a game like Friday’s — in fact, most FBS-FCS matchups provide very little value in the big picture. Yes, you get to typically play your entire roster — like IU did — and you likely will see a great deal of ‘eye-popping’ stats come from a matchup like that.

That’s exactly what came from IU’s 77-3 throttling of Western Illinois. But, it’s how Indiana did it that could provide some value moving into the Hoosiers’ first real test next week against Big Ten opponent UCLA.

After a week one performance that left Indiana fans and coaches wanting more, Friday should go a long way as a building block. As long as it’s used the right way and the takeaways are emphasized correctly. It’s easy to get a big head when you set a program record for points and yards in a single game.

The coaches know it — but even more importantly, the players know it too.

“There’s a lot of confidence after the win,” IU defensive lineman Mikail Kamara said. “Sometimes it can kill the vibes though if we get too high. As long as we use this as a confidence boost, be even keeled throughout the week, we will keep rolling as a team.”

Indiana set numerous firsts in program history. Of note were the aforementioned points and yards, but also a record 10 different players scoring a touchdown — most since 1912. It was the first time in a decade that IU had 300+ yards rushing and passing in a single game. Its 42 first-half points were the most since 2013.

It was a true team win.

“This was one of the most fun games I have ever been a part of,” Indiana wideout Elijah Sarratt said. “Not just for me because I had a big game, but being able to see all my other guys go out there and be able to score. It’s a great atmosphere out there, and I hope we keep that rolling.”

Six different players scored a rushing touchdown — seven total scores. Three separate wideouts had a touchdown.

Indiana scored on its first six drives before the end of the first half. Then, it’s next three drives before a turnover on downs to start the fourth quarter.

“Definitely gave us confidence,” Sarratt said. “Allowed us to work out the little knick knacks that we had, get the little details down. Grateful for that now we just have to keep stacking days onto week three.”

The performance was exactly what Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti was looking for. After preaching ‘learning how to play with the lead’ following week one, the message got across on Friday night. But, it wasn’t without some additional emphasis throughout the week.

“I thought every day built on the last. Tuesday wasn’t a great day,” Cignetti said. “I talked to the team afterwards about it. I don’t talk to the team after every practice. Most of them I do. I had some things to say, and I had a captive audience. They applied it the next day, and we had a really good day the day before the game. We went out in shoulder pads and helmets and practiced the day before the game.

“Then they were charged up in the locker room before the game and came out and played pretty well.”

While Indiana football is 2-0, it’s clear that next week will be the first test of the season. Traveling to UCLA for the Bruins’ first Big Ten game in program history. It will also be the first time since 1968 that the Hoosiers will be playing at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

Cignetti understands what’s at stake and knows that everyone will judge them based on next weekend — not the past two. But, he doesn’t care.

“We just play them (the games). They choose the schedule, and I get them ready to play and put them in the best positions, me and the staff,” Cignetti emphasized. “We play as well as we can on gameday. We develop this team every single day with the intangibles. We develop the culture and mindset, the identity and how they think, which is critical in how we play.

“The schedule is what it is. We’ll enjoy this one and think about the next one tomorrow or Sunday.”

So as good as Friday was, Indiana football has a day to celebrate and then get back to work. But, don’t get it twisted — its week two result isn’t something you just throw out the window. Now, you build on it.

“It was a good night,” Cignetti said. “I was pleased that our team played with an edge and an attitude and at a high standard. The ones that I’m talking about didn’t play down to the competition … There’s a lot more positives, but just like 98 percent of the teams in the country, we have a couple things to work on and improve on.”

“Gotta keep our foot on the (gas) pedal,” Kamara added. “That’s what good teams do