Indiana mounted a late comeback to defeat Nebraska 20-17, extending its winning streak to 22 consecutive games. The No. 7 Hoosiers trailed by 11 points in the fourth quarter after three dominant Nebraska quarters, but they never lost their composure.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti said the win had not fully sunk in. "It took everything the players and coaches had in that one to find a way to overcome," he said. At halftime, trailing 10-3, Cignetti told his players that good teams find a way to win games like this. He stressed resilience and an unshakable will.
The Hoosiers struggled on the ground, with running backs Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. combining for just 41 yards on 17 carries. Nebraska's Anthony Colandrea scored on a 39-yard run to make it 17-6 with 12:01 remaining, the biggest deficit Indiana had faced since its 2024 College Football Playoff loss to Notre Dame.
Quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Nick Marsh then turned the game around. Marsh caught a 75-yard touchdown pass on Indiana's next offensive play, and Hoover later found him for a 44-yard score that gave the Hoosiers the lead. Hoover threw for 263 yards on 12 completions and no interceptions this season. The defense held firm, stopping Colandrea twice on fourth down.
Under Cignetti, Indiana is now 7-0 in games decided by one score. Linebacker Isaiah Jones called the win "a great building block" for the team.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing