Two years ago, in week seven of the 2023 season, unranked Indiana played in a road game against a top three team in the AP top-25. The Hoosiers walked into Michigan Stadium and left battered by the No. 2 Wolverines in a 52-7 defeat. Their record fell to 2-4.
On Saturday, in week seven of the 2025 season, No. 7 Indiana played in a road game against a top three team in the AP top-25. The Hoosiers marched into Autzen Stadium with a mission and emerged victorious in a 30-20 win over No. 3 Oregon. Their record jumped to 6-0.
Times have changed.
“Our guys wanted it,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said. “It showed on the field they wanted it. They did the things they needed to do to be successful.”
On the opening drive of the game, Oregon needed one yard on fourth down in its own territory. Indiana’s defensive line, an average of 46 pounds lighter than Oregon’s offensive line, made the stop.
It was game on. Indiana was no easy opponent for the No. 3 Ducks.
The first half was mostly a back-and-forth affair. Indiana executed a methodical nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Oregon capitalized on a busted coverage for a 44-yard touchdown on a beautiful deep ball from quarterback Dante Moore. Two additional field goals for Indiana and one for Oregon made it a 13-10 Hoosier lead at the half.
Oregon outgained Indiana in the first half 203-165 in total yards and 80-55 in rushing yards.
“We’ve got to quit jumping offsides. We’ve got to do a better job of stopping the run. We’ve got to quit laying on the ground on defense and coming back the next play. Alright, and we’ve got to play better,” Cignetti angrily said in a halftime interview with CBS.
His team picked up the message.
Indiana outgained Oregon 161-64 in the second half and held Oregon to one rushing yard. The Ducks were 1-for-6 on third downs and turned the ball over twice.
Indiana was in the driver’s seat, but the game remained close. Working with a 20-13 lead with 12:42 remaining in the game, Indiana had a chance to go up two scores. Instead, quarterback Fernando Mendoza made a poor throw off his back foot that Oregon picked off and took to the endzone.
"There was no panic," Mendoza said of his team’s mindset following the play.
From then on, Indiana’s two remaining drives ended in a touchdown and a field goal. Oregon’s three remaining drives ended in two interceptions and a turnover on downs.
Mendoza finished 20-for-31 passing for 215 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Elijah Sarratt hauled in eight receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown to lead the receivers. Roman Hemby ran for 70 yards and two touchdowns to lead the rushing category.
Defensively, Indiana sacked Oregon six times with eight tackles for loss. Aiden Fisher led the way with 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
“A lot of people ask, why did you follow Coach Cignetti? Why did you make this decision instead of other schools? This is why,” Fisher said.
Indiana now owns a 6-0 record for the second consecutive season. This time, it is a little different. The Hoosiers own a signature top-five road win.
“It shows the country that the IU football team is a real team, we’re not just a one-hit wonder," Mendoza said.
Indiana had not beaten an AP top-five team in 46 tries. Cignetti had never beaten a ranked team on the road. Oregon had not lost a game at home since 2022.
All of that changed with 60 minutes of football.
The Hoosiers will likely own their highest ever rank in the AP top-25 on Sunday afternoon. They will look to defend it in their first home game in four weeks as a homecoming date with Michigan State awaits next Saturday.
Photos: No. 7 Indiana 30, No. 3 Oregon 20
