Hoosier the bison makes first public appearance after 60-year absence
Indiana University’s ‘Hoosier the Bison’ returns after nearly 60 years at football game opener.
BLOOMINGTON – Curt Cignetti watched his Indiana football team navigate a slow, stilted start to its season opener before easing past Old Dominion 27-14.
Here’s what I liked, and what I didn’t, from the Hoosiers’ opener, and what it means.
What I liked from Indiana football’s win vs Old Dominion
Roman Hemby showed burst and feel running the ball No. 19 Indiana (1-0) probably didn’t have from the position last year. That’s not surprising, given his big-play reputation at Maryland. But without having to be overly creative, Indiana handed Hemby a sizable, impactful role within its offense, and he responded with 309 total yards.
∙ The defensive response after allowing a 75-yard touchdown run on the first snap of the game was commendable. Old Dominion (0-1) didn’t snap the ball on Indiana’s side of the 50 the rest of the first half, and crossed it just once before a penalty flipped the Monarchs back into negative territory. Two interceptions handed that flagging offense momentum. And given time, IU solved the riddle of defending dual-threat Colton Joseph.
∙ Cal transfer Jonathan Brady looked very ambitious returning punts. That might backfire at some point, but it paid off with multiple impactful returns, including a touchdown in the first half. Even if it’s not a weapon every weekend, it’s good to have Brady’s electricity on film.
What I disliked from Indiana football’s win vs Old Dominion
IU (1-0) might have been the best red-zone team in America last year, which made it all the more jarring when the Hoosiers got stuffed multiple times inside the 10-yard line in the first half. Some of the offensive inconsistencies Saturday can probably be chalked up to vanilla play calling, but Indiana can’t be bullied that way going forward.
∙ Quarterback Fernando Mendoza flashed in moments, but often looked uncomfortable and out of rhythm in his Indiana debut. There was some mitigation there. Old Dominion ran almost exclusively two-high defense, intent upon not getting beat deep. Mendoza should’ve had another deep-shot touchdown, but Omar Cooper Jr. dropped it. And IU kept its pass game noticeably vanilla. Still, Cignetti will want to see better days ahead.
∙ The bust can be forgiven thanks to the response, but Indiana was one of the least explosive-prone defenses in the country in 2024. Bryant Haines will want at least a minor inquisition as to how IU could misfit so badly against Colton Joseph’s 75-yard touchdown run to start the game, and then a 78-yard rush in the fourth quarter.
What Indiana football’s win vs Old Dominion means
Indiana looked a lot like this in the opener against FIU last year — rusty, out of rhythm, intentionally limited. It obviously didn’t get in the way of the Hoosiers’ long-term ambitions. Cignetti has fuel now to push his team to respond similarly after Week 1 in 2025. IU needs to be better going forward.
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