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Indiana makes a bit of history with dominant 8-0 start

Cory Nightingale

By Cory Nightingale

Published:

Indiana isn’t just beating opponents. It is dominating them without much of a sweat so far in 2024.

The Hoosiers are turning the college football world on its ear this fall, at a time when the IU student body is usually counting the days until that first basketball home game at Assembly Hall. Not this year. Not with first-year head coach Curt Cignetti winning in Bloomington like he’s won everywhere else.

Cignetti is brash and bold, and he’s led Indiana to an 8-0 start for the first time since 1967 after the Hoosiers calmly brushed aside Washington, 31-17, on Saturday despite missing starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke because of injury.

Tayven Jackson filled in just fine, as the Hoosiers put away the Huskies after they crept within 17-14 and achieved something historic in the process.

Indiana became the first FBS team to start 8-0 without trailing at any point in a game in at least 20 years, according to ESPN.

The Hoosiers improved to 5-0 in the Big Ten and will enter November undefeated, with a trip to Michigan State in Week 10. A home showdown with defending national champion Michigan follows the week after and then, after a bye, Indiana heads to Ohio State for what could be one of the biggest football games in program history.

So, this November at least, Indiana basketball can wait a little bit before it gets the spotlight.

Cory Nightingale