No. 5 Indiana survived a serious scare Friday night in Bloomington, fending off a relentless Northwestern push to grab their 20th straight win. This one felt different though, because Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles decided he wasn’t going to let the Hoosiers just cruise. He absolutely shredded Indiana’s shutout streak in the second half, leading his team on three consecutive touchdown drives that made everyone in Memorial Stadium sweat.
The Streak is Still Alive, But Man, It Was Close
The Hoosiers walked into the third quarter having tied the longest shutout streak of the decade, rocking 11 straight quarters without giving up a single point, according to ESPN Insights. That’s insane! But then Chiles got going. He capped off Northwestern’s first trip to the end zone with a touchdown pass to Griffin Wilde, ending that incredible streak. Indiana’s defense, which started strong by stopping Northwestern at the goal line early and even got a safety from a flubbed snap, suddenly looked human. Josh Hoover, the Indiana QB, put up solid numbers, going 19/29 for 201 yards and a touchdown, including a crucial 6-for-6 stretch in the second quarter that ended with a score to Nick Marsh. But the whole vibe changed when Chiles started cooking.
Wildcats Kept Punching Back, Despite Early Setbacks
Northwestern didn’t just roll over after a tough start. Chiles lost 21 yards and got hit with intentional grounding on their final drive of the first half, which basically killed any momentum. Plus, Indiana got a 43-yard field goal and that Hoover-to-Marsh touchdown to pull ahead. But the Wildcats refused to quit. Chiles was a beast, throwing for 293 yards and two touchdowns on 22/29 passing, and even running one in himself later. After a Hoover drive highlighted by a deep pass to Charlie Becker ended in a field goal for Indiana, Northwestern made them pay for those four points left on the table. Chiles hit Wilde in the end zone again early in the fourth, cutting Indiana’s lead to just two points. Lee Beebe Jr. tried to put the Hoosiers back in control with a rushing touchdown, but Chiles immediately answered with a rushing touchdown of his own, making it a two-point game AGAIN. Beebe then ripped off a 70-yard run on Indiana’s next drive, setting up Hoover for a touchdown pass to finally seal it. Northwestern even tried an onside kick late, but Indiana recovered.
It’s a win, but what a battle. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers are now crossing their fingers for good news on running back Turbo Richard, who got helped off the field without putting weight on one leg after a no-penalty play. They’ll need him next weekend when they hit the road for a Saturday matchup at Rutgers. This one was way too close for comfort for the No. 5 team in the country.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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