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1h ago

Indiana Crushes No. 9 Illinois 63–10, Vaults to No. 11 in AP Poll

The rout answered doubts about Indiana’s schedule strength and sharpened focus on tougher tests to come.

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Indiana's Fernando Mendoza (15) is pushed by Illinois' Dylan Rosiek (28) as he runs during the Indiana versus Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025
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Overview

  • Fernando Mendoza went 21-for-23 for 267 yards with five touchdowns, finishing with 17 straight completions in a near-flawless outing.
  • Indiana’s defense logged seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss, holding Illinois to 161 total yards and just two rushing yards.
  • D’Angelo Ponds blocked a first-quarter punt and returned it for a touchdown to spark the blowout, with special teams also setting up another score.
  • Curt Cignetti said Indiana “broke their will” after predicting his defensive line would “whip” Illinois up front, while Bret Bielema said he was at a loss for words.
  • The win moved Indiana up eight spots to No. 11, dropped Illinois to No. 23, and shifted attention to Indiana’s upcoming trip to Iowa before later dates with Oregon and Penn State; Illinois next faces USC.