Whereas Indiana dined on roasted Duck in Friday’s Peach Bowl, a few of us had been left consuming crow.
It’s a dish with which I’ve grow to be well-acquainted by way of this school soccer season, watching the Hoosiers not simply win every of the 15 instances they’ve taken the sphere, however repeatedly dominate.
Given Indiana was tabbed sixth within the preseason Huge Ten Convention media ballot, at the least I do know I’m not consuming alone.
Having skepticism in regards to the Hoosiers forward of the season may very well be justified. Sure, Indiana made the Faculty Soccer Playoff subject in 2024, however did so with a resume bereft of marquee wins.
The Hoosiers performed a remarkably tender schedule in 2024 and when confronted with elite competitors — particularly, nationwide champion Ohio State and runner-up Notre Dame — had been totally outclassed. One might validate their doubt of Indiana then, however there’s no doubting the Hoosiers now.
Their 56-22 trouncing of Oregon in Atlanta offers Indiana wins over its Huge Ten counterpart on each coasts, with the Hoosiers successful in Eugene on Oct. 11, 30-20. The 2 defeats of the Geese make up 40 p.c of Indiana’s spectacular 5 wins over groups ranked within the ultimate Playoff ballot earlier than the preseason and third in a row following the 13-10 Huge Ten Championship grind in opposition to Ohio State and 38-3 depantsing of Alabama within the Rose Bowl.
In hindsight, the primary of Indiana’s High 25 wins foreshadowed what was to come back for this group. Coming off a 63-10 decimation of Illinois the week prior, when the Illini had been really ranked within the AP Ballot, the Hoosiers bumped into proverbial quicksand at Iowa.
The Hawkeyes bodily protection gave Indiana suits and despatched the groups into the fourth quarter with Iowa forward, 13-10. The Hoosiers capacity to soak up the physique blows the Hawkeyes dealt mirrored the tough-as-leather aura head coach Curt Cignetti offers off in his basic demeanor, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered his early-season Heisman second.
His 49-yard landing reference to Elijah Sarratt broke a 13-13 stalemate within the ultimate 90 seconds and preserved Indiana’s good begin. That was in September, lower than halfway into the schedule, and opponents have solely performed Indiana to inside a single-digit margin twice since.
Add the Peach Bowl to that listing of eight video games and counting, which additionally doubled as an after-the-fact Heisman second for Mendoza.
He acquired the award nearly a month in the past, however validated his choice with a sensational efficiency in opposition to Oregon, throwing extra touchdowns (5) than incompletions (three). Mendoza utterly wiped away any lingering doubt that will have been left from when he completed 20-of-31 and threw a pick-six in Eugene.
Mendoza’s play the second time round in opposition to Oregon lends credence to how linebacker Aiden Fisher described the Peach Bowl on Wednesday: A revenge sport.
“We did not play effectively in our first sport in opposition to them,” Fisher informed reporter. “I do know lots of people put it out as it is a revenge sport for Oregon…but it surely’s a revenge sport for us, too.”
Fisher, who had a team-high 9 tackles with 1.5 for loss and a move deflection on Friday, added: “My message to the group is simply go away little doubt.”
The identical message could be utilized to Indiana’s complete season. With another sport to go in opposition to Miami — an unlikely underdog making an attempt to grow to be the Faculty Soccer Playoff’s model of March Insanity’ 1985 Villanova Wildcats — the Hoosiers are 4 quarters away from being traditionally simple.
I recommend anybody who questioned Indiana at any juncture this season have a tall drink available to scrub down one final serving of crow.
