BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Josh Hoover threw four touchdown passes, three to wide receiver Charlie Becker, and No. 5 Indiana blanked Howard 55-0 on Saturday in a game shortened to 55 minutes by mutual agreement of the coaches and officials.
Hoover efficient in limited action
Hoover completed 6 of 11 passes for 145 yards and accounted for four scores, marking his second consecutive game with four touchdown passes for Indiana. Becker finished with 81 receiving yards and three touchdown catches; he left the game at halftime and did not play in the shortened second half, as did several regular starters.
“Better taste in our mouth after this one,” two-time Associated Press Coach of the Year Curt Cignetti said, comparing the result to last week’s game.
Cignetti said the coaches agreed to a 10-minute fourth quarter and that the decision was discussed with officials before the game. The shortened fourth quarter allowed Indiana to play deeper into its roster while preserving players’ health late in a lopsided contest.
Running game, defense set tone
The Hoosiers rushed for 301 yards as a team. Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard each surpassed 100 rushing yards, with Richard also adding a 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Defensive scoring helped build the lead when Rolijah Hardy returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown before halftime.
Defensive pressure and run blocking combined to give Indiana control of the line of scrimmage for much of the afternoon. Cignetti praised the front seven after the game, saying the Hoosiers “started to dominate up front” and that the defensive performance produced Indiana’s first shutout of the season.
Streaks, records and coaching milestones
The win improved Indiana to 2-0 on the season and extended several program streaks. The Hoosiers — the defending national champions at the FCS level before moving up — carried the Football Bowl Subdivision’s longest active winning streak to 18 games and its longest active home winning streak to 17. Cignetti’s record at Memorial Stadium remains spotless; he is unbeaten at home and is 28-2 after 30 games overall, one of the best starts in FBS history.
Howard struggles against FBS opponent
Howard, an FCS program, fell to 1-2 with the loss. Quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins completed 8 of 15 passes for 43 yards and threw an interception. The Bison’s last victory over an FBS opponent came in 2017 against UNLV.
| Stat | Indiana | Howard |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 55 | 0 |
| Passing yards (Hoover) | 145 | — |
| Team rushing yards | 301 | — |
| Winning streak (FBS) | 18 games | — |
Coaches rotate and preserve depth
Cignetti emphasized the coaching staff’s intent to give playing time across the roster in a game that got out of hand early. With Indiana leading 20-0 after the first quarter, several starters were removed at halftime. The shortened fourth quarter was used as a vehicle to reduce total snaps for the starters and to feature depth players without prolonging a one-sided contest.
The coach also noted a recurring tackling issue late in games: “The only issue was we couldn’t tackle their quarterback occasionally,” he said, referencing some open-field plays. Still, Indiana’s combination of effective passing on early drives, a productive ground attack and opportunistic defense produced a comprehensive result.
What’s next
Indiana will look to maintain momentum and protect its streaks in coming weeks, while Howard seeks its first FBS scalp in nearly a decade. Saturday’s result underscored the gap in depth and execution between the programs, but also provided Indiana an opportunity to evaluate younger players in a live-game setting.
- Hoover: 6 of 11, 145 yards, 4 TDs
- Becker: 3 receptions for 81 yards, 3 TDs
- Team rushing: 301 yards; two rushers over 100
Trevor Lindqvist, State Correspondent
