Indiana soccer delivered the largest splash this duck pond hasn’t witnessed since 2022. Autzen Stadium followers clad in inexperienced and gold hit the exits in disappointment — after Oregon fell to the brand new rising Massive Ten favourite.
Indiana shattered two marks in a single Saturday: Beating its first prime 10 crew on the highway, plus ending a 46-game development linked to Oregon.
The Geese entered their very own territory the upper ranked crew and the reigning convention champs. IU head coach Curt Cignetti and his crew, in the meantime, confronted criticism on if they will topple a prime 5 foe.
Cignetti and IU answered these questions — and now appear to be the Massive Ten frontrunner for these causes.
Indiana’s prime 5 protection throttled a Heisman Trophy candidate
Dante Moore carried Heisman Trophy chatter in tow. The prized Faculty Soccer Switch Portal addition lit defenses up by his arm and legs. He and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza drew NFL theories earlier than the sport as two potential first spherical alternatives.
However Moore confronted a Hoosiers protection permitting the second-fewest yards within the convention. Indiana confirmed its prime 5 nationwide mettle all through the afternoon, together with within the trenches.
BIG 4TH DOWN STOP@IndianaFootball forces the turnover on downs on the opening drive 👀
CBS | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/f2qdFeD976
— CBS Sports activities Faculty Soccer 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 11, 2025
Moore hit solely 186 passing yards, now his second-worst passing yardage efficiency. He admitted by way of Duck Territory on 247Sports that the guests “had plenty of completely different ideas they ran on protection” that compelled him to overlook easy reads.
Extra astonishing: Moore took six sacks, from 5 completely different defenders as IU introduced stress and confusion for the QB.
“They sort of discovered one thing in our offense. We each had bye weeks they usually sort of attacked that sure space towards our offense. We had a few safety points, however that may begin from me, keying the protection and getting the safety proper,” Moore mentioned after the sport.
Fernando Mendoza stayed composed throughout Indiana-Oregon
Fielding a prime 5 protection wins you any sport on Saturdays. However having a robust, composed quarterback boosts the title hopes.
Indiana has that with Fernando Mendoza, who delivered a large assertion sport.
The previous Cal quarterback delivered one expensive throw that tied the sport up late 20-20. However he fired a again shoulder fade on the following drive for six factors.
BACK SHOULDER ON THE MONEY@IndianaFootball retakes the lead late 👀
CBS | Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/3PTSh0zZ6u
— CBS Sports activities Faculty Soccer 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) October 11, 2025
Mendoza capped off a 12-play scoring drive after the choose. He accomplished his first 5 passes of that drive earlier than discovering Elijah Sarratt ultimately zone. The previous Cal Golden Bear even redeemed himself one 12 months in the past in his final high-profile battle.
Mendoza was on the sphere when Miami got here in nationally ranked towards a 3-1 Cal crew. His Bears failed to finish the win in dropping 39-38. Now he toppled a prime 10 opponent inside a hostile atmosphere.
Indiana has assured, unapologetic head coach
Cignetti reminded followers to Google his resume. He dropped the same assertion however with out the reference to the highly effective on-line search engine.
“I’ve received a pair nice highway wins within the final three locations I used to be (James Madison and Elon), and I simply sort of felt this coming in, and it is a good win for this system,” Cignetti instructed reporters.
Cignetti then turned blunt about how Oregon fared towards his squad.
“They could not actually get a lot achieved in any respect. It was virtually like we had damaged their will a bit of bit on that aspect of the ball,” Cignetti mentioned within the sport plan towards Oregon’s offense.
A brash and unapologetic type runs contained in the Bloomington campus because of him.
Last cause why Indiana seems to be like Massive Ten lock
Oregon stood as the ultimate prime 5 opponent on the IU schedule — not to mention the final ranked crew.
IU will not face top-ranked Oregon nor even present No. 15 Michigan. Solely 4-2 Maryland at Faculty Park is IU’s final foe presently above .500.
A Michigan State crew blasted by UCLA arrives subsequent in Bloomington, adopted by the instantly surging Bruins the week after. Then it is Maryland on Nov. 1. The imploding Penn State Nittany Lions, then a pair of 2-3 groups in Wisconsin and Purdue, conclude the common season slate.
Indiana now has the best highway to staying in-state for the convention title sport. Followers may very well be seeing a 3rd banner however first since 1967.