The first school soccer staff to achieve bowl eligibility in 2024 just isn’t Georgia, Ohio State or Texas. It’s Indiana, which improved to 6-0 after a 41-24 win over Northwestern on Saturday. This marks the Hoosiers’ finest begin to a season since 1967.
Indiana hasn’t been to a bowl recreation for the reason that COVID-shortened 2020 season, when the Hoosiers misplaced the Outback Bowl to Ole Miss. They went simply 9-27 over the following three seasons earlier than firing coach Tom Allen. This 12 months, No. 23 Indiana has yet to finish in a match below new coach Curt Cignetti.
Now that IU is bowl eligible, Cignetti will obtain an automated one-year extension, a $250,000 increase, a $200,000 bonus and a personnel funds improve. according to USA Today.
The Hoosiers have received their first three Big Ten conferences this season by double digits. Senior quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns on the highway towards Northwestern on Saturday, per week after recording 359 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 42-28 win over Maryland.
The Hoosiers additionally had 158 yards on the bottom towards the Wildcats, with Justice Ellison (68 yards) and Ty Son Lawton every with a speeding landing. Elijah Sarratt had 135 yards on seven receptions.
Highlights of the #23 Indiana Hoosiers vs. the Northwestern Wildcats | FOX College Football
The nation’s No. 3 offense, coming into Saturday, surpassed the 40-point mark for the fifth time this season, accumulating greater than 500 yards of whole offense with no turnovers.
Rourke loved his third 300-yard efficiency within the final 4 video games, because the Hoosiers averaged 4.9 yards per stick with it the bottom earlier than the ultimate drive. Indiana dedicated the Eleventh-worst offense in 2023, scoring 22.2 factors per recreation.
Indiana’s schedule will get more durable from right here on out. After a bye subsequent week, the Hoosiers will host Nebraska and Washington in consecutive weeks. They will even face No. 9 Michigan and No. 3 Ohio State in November.
But for now, Indiana sits alone in first place atop the Big Ten standings.
