Indiana football came within a foot of taking the lead against No. 6 Ohio State but fell 19-15 in a game that left coach Curt Cignetti both frustrated and hopeful. The Hoosiers showed they could compete with one of the nation’s top teams, but costly mistakes ultimately sealed their fate.
After the loss at Bloomington, Cignetti admitted he wasn’t sure how good his team was before the game, but the narrow margin against Ohio State gave him a new perspective. “I woke up, you know, with kind of a new perspective: That we proved that we're capable,” he said on Monday.
Despite the close score, Cignetti’s frustration centered on Indiana’s “uncharacteristic” errors. A critical moment came near the end of the first half, when the Hoosiers drove inside the Buckeyes’ 15-yard line but failed to convert. On third down, tight end Brock Schott was left open in the end zone due to a blown assignment, but the Hoosiers did not find him. Instead, they settled for a field goal attempt by Nico Radicic, which hit the crossbar and missed.
“We had momentum; we're taking control,” Cignetti said. “We go down there and score, we'd be up 11. We don't execute something that's like day one in terms of level of execution required. Have to kick the field goal. Hit the crossbar. Doesn't happen very often. They go down and score.”
Indiana’s struggles continued after halftime. The Hoosiers fumbled twice within minutes of the third quarter, ending a streak of ball security that had lasted since the 2025 opener against Old Dominion. “In some ways we beat ourselves,” Cignetti said.
The final play of the game also reflected the mistakes that cost Indiana. Quarterback Josh, under pressure, hesitated and pump-faked instead of releasing the ball quickly, allowing Ohio State’s defense to break up the play. Cignetti described it as “definitely a layup,” a missed opportunity the team will look to correct.
Cignetti also addressed the attention on Nick Marsh but stressed that the team’s errors went beyond one player. “Had some pressure on that play in Josh's face, and Josh's drop wasn't exactly corrected and then he pump faked it, so he could have gotten it out a little quicker,” Cignetti said.
With a 6-1 overall record and 3-1 in the Big Ten, Indiana remains in the hunt for a title despite the setback. Looking ahead to their upcoming game against Michigan, Cignetti emphasized the need to learn from mistakes and improve.
“We just have to clean up a couple areas,” he said. “And use this setback to learn and grow and come back stronger and better.”
Michael Niziolek of The Bloomington Herald-Times reported on Cignetti’s comments.
According to Yahoo Sports.