Live Blog: FINAL — No. 19 Indiana Football 63 vs No. 9 Illinois 10
No. 19 Indiana Football opens Big Ten play with No. 9 Illinois coming to Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium.
Both teams have opened the season 3-0 and are coming off a double-digit win season.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is in his fifth season with the program and has a 31-22 (18-18) record during his tenure.
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Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers will be looking to get a signature win on their resume as they look to make another run to the College Football Playoff.
ON3+: Visitor List: Indiana set for massive recruiting weekend as Hoosiers host Illini
The Hoosiers are 6.5-point favorites over the Fighting Illini with an over/under of 51.5 points per BetMGM.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM ET on NBC.
Below is a full live blog with updated coverage throughout the game.
Gameday Essentials: Indiana football vs Illinois
ESPN’s College Gameday’s picks for Illinois vs Indiana
09/20/2025 04:17:58 PMAvailability Report
09/20/2025 04:37:02 PM
The game will start on Peacock due to the delay in the Purdue-Notre Dame game
09/20/2025 06:12:01 PMIndiana wins the toss and elects to defer
09/20/2025 06:48:36 PMIllinois will start with the football and the Hoosiers will defend the North end zone.
D’Angelo Ponds blocks the Illinois punt and takes it for a TD
09/20/2025 07:06:55 PMQ1 9:26: Indiana Football 7, Illinois 0
After each team opened with a three and out the Hoosiers force another stop. On the Illinois punt, D’Angelo Ponds breaks through and blocks the punt before picking up the loose ball and taking it for six.
Luke Altmeyer finds Collin Dixon over the top for long TD
09/20/2025 07:12:49 PMQ1 8:24: Indiana Football 7, Illinois 7
Illinois takes advantage of a coverage bust as Luke Altmeyer finds Collin Dixon for a 59 yard touchdown to tie the game.
Omar Cooper Jr. finds the end zone for Indiana
09/20/2025 07:21:43 PMQ1 4:41: Indiana Football 14, Illinois 7
Hoosiers come right back with six of their own. After Kaelon Black gets a first down on 4th and 1, Omar Cooper Jr. takes a slant 39 yards breaking several tackles in the process. Then on the next play Cooper Jr. takes the screen pass from Fernando Mendoza 11 yards for the touchdown. 7 play 75 yard drive gives Indiana the lead.
End of 1Q: Indiana Football 14, Illinois 7
09/20/2025 07:31:48 PM
Fernando Mendoza finds EJ Williams for six
09/20/2025 07:46:15 PMQ2 11:05: Indiana Football 21, Illinois 7
After another Hoosiers stop, Fernando Mendoza leads the Hoosiers down into the red zone before finding EJ Williams in the back of the end zone on third down.
Illinois’ Miles Scott was ejected for targeting during the drive after a hit on Omar Cooper Jr.
Riley Nowakowski takes the screen to the house
09/20/2025 07:59:25 PMQ2 6:17: Indiana Football 28, Illinois 7
Fernando Mendoza continues to cook the Illini defense. This time he finds TE Riley Nowakowski on the screen and the tight end does the rest going 43 yards to the house. 4 play 80 yard drive for the Hoosiers.
Fernando Mendoza is 10-12 for 188 yards with three touchdowns already.
Elijah Sarratt adds another touchdown to Indiana’s lead
09/20/2025 08:15:45 PMQ2 1:09: Indiana Football 35, Illinois 7
After another stop by the defense the Hoosiers go 65 yards on 9 plays with Mendoza finding Sarratt for a 9 yard touchdown, Mendoza’s 4th of the half.
HALFTIME: Indiana Football 35, Illinois 10
09/20/2025 08:23:05 PMIllinois get a field goal before the half but the Hoosiers scored 28 straight after Illinois’ first touchdown to take a dominant lead into the half.
Kaelon Black breaks off a 40 yard TD run to open half
09/20/2025 08:48:49 PMQ3 11:38: Indiana Football 42, Illinois 10
Indiana picks up right where they left off as Kaelon Black breaks off a 40 yard run on third down to extend the lead. 7 play 75 yard drive for the Hoosiers to open the half.
Fernando Mendoza connects with Elijah Sarratt for a 2nd TD
09/20/2025 09:05:23 PMQ3 5:02: Indiana Football 49, Illinois 10
After another Hoosier stop, Fernando Mendoza leads the Hoosiers down the field for his fifth touchdown of the game.
END OF 3Q: Indiana Football 49, Illinois 10
09/20/2025 09:19:10 PM
Former Indiana offensive lineman Mike Katic in attendance
09/20/2025 09:23:43 PMKhobie Martin adds another touchdown for Indiana
09/20/2025 09:24:11 PMQ4 14:09: Indiana Football 56, Illinois 10
Indiana brought in the backups to start the fourth quarter and Khobie Martin immediately breaks off a 31 yard rushing touchdown to start the quarter.
Khobie Martin adds another TD
09/20/2025 09:38:02 PMQ4 6:39: Indiana Football 63, Illinois 10
Hoosiers go 67 yards on eight plays with Khobie Martin finishing the drive off for his 2nd TD of the day.
Amare Ferrell gets his second interception of the season
09/20/2025 09:45:50 PMQ4 4:49: Indiana Football 63, Illinois 10
Illinois backup QB Ethan Hampton is picked off on his third attempt of the game by Amare Ferrell.
FINAL: No. 19 Indiana Football 63, No. 9 Illinois 10
09/20/2025 09:50:55 PM
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