Coach Curt Cignetti led his Indiana Hoosiers to a 27-13 home win over USC football that included a hilarious situation involving kicker Caden Chittenden. Cignetti made a tough decision before the game that cleared the way for Grant Wilson to start, an opportunity the 25-year-old starter made the most of in Bloomington, Indiana.
Wilson had 305 yards passing with two touchdowns and one interception, continuing Cignetti's tradition of getting the most out of new players in big games. He had a refreshing message for new backup and teammate Josh Hoover after the huge home win, as shared by reporter Matt Fortuna.
“It's awesome, this brotherhood that we have right here, it's second to none…These guys have been nothing but great mentors to me, Fernando (Mendoza) last year, Josh (Hoover) this year, I just want to give a shoutout to Josh, he's been through so much with his shoulder, he's worked so hard to come back, this is still his team,” Wilson said after his Hoosiers pounded Lincoln Riley's Trojans at Memorial Stadium.
Jayden Maiava led USC with 311 passing yards, but was picked three times but the IU defense. Wilson did a better job of taking care of the football with 305 yards passing and two touchdowns, along with one interception.
Article Continues BelowThe IU offensive line lived up to Wilson's lofty billing as Khobie Wilson ran for over 80 yards and a score. In the passing game, Nick Marsh had 80 receiving yards on four catches as Wilson's favorite target.
At 9-1, IU looks like a smart bet for a College Football Playoff spot. A road game against Washington and Old Oaken Bucket trophy game against Purdue are all that stand in the Hoosiers' way of a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game, which could be the last one for a long time, if not ever.