Indiana has outscored its opponents by a healthy margin in the middle of games this season.
In total, the Hoosiers own a 184-93 advantage on the season in the second and third quarters, combined. That’s a plenty-dominant 23.0-11.7 average per game over the middle two quarters. Teams can win a lot of football games with a stretch of two quarters like that.
But the stage has been set in the first quarter this season, when fast starts have allowed IU to build early leads and then double-down on their aggressive style of play on both sides of the football.
Indiana starts, literally, with 87-0. That’s the Hoosiers scoring margin in first quarters. And through Week 9, Indiana is the only FBS program to not allow a first quarter point in 2024.
With an all gas, no brakes mentality coming out of the gates, Indiana has put opponents on their heels in each and every contest. IU is one of four teams nationally to have scored first in each of its games played (Army, Ole Miss, Boise State) and is one of two teams to not trail in any game this season (Army).
“I think we’re executing well to start the game,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said this week. “We got a lot of experienced, confident players. They’re making plays early.”
And although Cignetti is pleased with how his team has started games, he knows the good fortune won’t last forever. It’s football, after all, and crazy things can happen. Like a tipped pass that led to D’Angelo Ponds’ interception return for a touchdown against Washington when it looked like the Hoosiers might fall behind on Saturday.
“Every game’s different,” he said. “Looked like we had the potential to fall behind in the first quarter this past week. D’Angelo Ponds comes up with the big interception, run back for a touchdown. That day’s coming. Doesn’t last forever. Hopefully it’s not coming, but…”
There have been games where things have been interesting because of some middle quarter slippage. The Maryland game was tied midway through the third. The Hoosiers were up just three on Northwestern early in the fourth. And they led Washington by just three early in the third.
But Indiana’s second most dominant quarter has been finishing time in the fourth, when they hold a 101-20 edge. They put all three of those games away with strong final stanzas.
It all translates to the longest streak of double-digit wins in program history — all eight contests this season. There has been no late game drama. None of the games thus far have been in doubt as the final minutes ticked off the clock in the fourth quarter.
“In the fourth quarter, we’ve been strong,” Cignetti said. “Probably credit to a lot of things. Our strength and conditioning program has to play a role in that, I think. I think a lot of times we just built that momentum because we’ve been scoring and kind of distancing ourselves from whoever it is we’re playing and sort of have the momentum at that point.”
MORE NATIONAL NUMBERS:
Here are some of the main traditional statistical categories where IU ranks in the top-10 nationally:
- Indiana’s is producing 46.5 points per game, the second most in the nation (Miami, Fla.)
- Total offense — No. 6 (488 yards per game)
- Third down conversion percentage — No. 3 (54%)
- Total first downs — No. 2 (209)
- Passing yards per completion — No. 8 (14.4)
- Completion percentage — No. 6 (71.9%)
- The IU defense is allowing 14.1 points per game, the seventh fewest nationally.
- Total defense — No. 5 (270 yards per game)
- Rushing defense — No. 4 (86.1 yards per game)
- Fourth down conversion percentage defense — No. 3 (22.7%)
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