Curt Cignetti didn’t like it when Don Fischer introduced IU football’s next game — Nov. 23 at Ohio State — as “arguably the biggest game in IU gridiron history” on their radio show Thursday evening.
The first year head coach threw up his hands in playful disapproval of that characterization.
When Cignetti was introduced on the show, he teased Fischer about his description of the game.
“I’ve got to take some exception here,” Cignetti said. “‘The biggest game in IU football history?’ You’re such a media guy. It’s a big game because it’s the next game. It’s the only game coming up, and that makes it a big game. But what happens is if you keep becoming successful, the meanings of the next game and the next game keep becoming bigger. It’s just the next game.”
But is Fischer right?
It’s relatively easy to go back in IU’s history and point to the biggest games because seasons like 2024 have been few and far between.
If we establish some criteria here — a late regular season game with Big Ten title and/or national implications — then it is certainly reasonable to argue the game between CFP No. 5 Indiana and No. 2 Ohio State is among the biggest regular season games in program history.
At stake for both teams is a spot in the Big Ten Championship game, and with that a potential bye in the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
What other late season games might have matched that level of meaning for the IU football program? There have only been a handful.
1945 — PURDUE AT INDIANA
Wins earlier in the season at Michigan and at Minnesota were massive, but an undefeated season and an outright Big Ten title would be on the line against arch-rival and No. 18 ranked Purdue in the 1945 season finale. The Hoosiers had risen to their highest national ranking they would achieve on the season — No. 4.
After a scoreless first half in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket, IU erupted for four second half touchdowns — two runs by Pete Pihos and two passes from Ben Raimondi, to cruise to the victory and secure a 9-0-1 record. It was Indiana’s third straight shutout to close out the season as the Hoosiers won going away, 26-0.
Just how much excitement was there about the Hoosiers’ Big Ten title and undefeated season? According to a Chicago Tribune report, IU president Herman B. Wells declared the following Monday to be a holiday with no classes to be held.
The win gave IU what remains their one and only outright Big Ten title.
1967 — PURDUE AT INDIANA
It would be No. 3 and defending Rose Bowl champion Purdue standing in the way of a first ever trip to the Rose Bowl for IU.
With more than 52,000 looking on at Memorial Stadium, Indiana ran out to a 19-7 lead. Senior Terry Cole was the big story with 155 yards rushing.
Purdue would cut the lead to 19-14, and the Boilermakers had the ball at the IU four yard line with six minutes remaining in the game. That’s when Ken Kaczmarek forced a fumble that safety Mike Baughman recovered at the one yard line.
The Hoosiers would hang on from there to secure a share of the Big Ten title and their first ever trip to Pasadena.
1987 — INDIANA AT MICHIGAN STATE
IU traveled to East Lansing for a game that would likely determine the Big Ten champion. A Hoosier win over Michigan State would have set up Indiana for a win and you are in the Rose Bowl game against Purdue the following week.
It wasn’t to be.
With the Indiana offense sputtering, the Spartans controlled the game and won 27-3. This memorable moment followed in the Michigan State locker room, as head coach Bill Mallory implored the Spartans to go win the Rose Bowl. MSU did just that, beating USC, 20-17.
2020 — INDIANA AT OHIO STATE
No. 9 Indiana put up a fight, but 28 unanswered points by the No. 3 Buckeyes were too much to overcome.
IU rallied from a 35-7 deficit and twice had the ball with a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter after its defense stopped Ohio State.
But despite a big offensive day, Indiana struggled to move the ball on those two late drives and came up short, 42-35 in Columbus.
The game would end up being the difference in Indiana’s chance to play in the Big Ten title game and probably the CFP.
Ohio State would go on to win the Big Ten title and finish as the national runner-up in the CFP.
HONORABLE MENTION
- 1993 at Penn State
- 1988 vs. Ohio State
- 1988 at Michigan
- 1987 at Iowa
- 1967 at Michigan
- 1945 at Minnesota
- 1910 vs. Illinois
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