Hoosiers Fall Short Against Rutgers on Homecoming

Saturday, October 21

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

2-5 , 0-4

Rutgers

6-2 , 3-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Rutgers

Indiana

Hoosiers Fall Short Against Rutgers on Homecoming

10/21/2023 3:50:00 PM | Football

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By: Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Defeat didn't buckle cornerback Nic Toomer. In a somber Memorial Stadium W. Jay and Nancy Wilkinson Performance Center in the aftermath of Saturday's 31-14 loss to Rutgers, he focused on the future, on getting back to work, on fixing mistakes, and pushing to improve.

"What's past is the past," he said. "We have a big challenge ahead of us. We still can make a bowl game. We put this behind us and go back to work."

On a postcard-perfect-weather Homecoming, opportunity was there, execution wasn't. Rutgers (6-2) scored 10 points on Hoosier special teams mistakes. It rushed for 276 yards and possessed the ball for nearly 38 minutes to IU's 22.

"We've got to execute better," head coach Tom Allen said. "We have to keep the defense off the field. Get key stops at key times."

A third-straight loss dropped Indiana to 2-5 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten.

"This is not a good place to be," Allen said. "It falls on me. I'm the one responsible.

"These are challenging times. It's frustrating to have those kinds of mistakes. Those are things we have to be better at."

Postseason hopes remain, even as the margin for error shrinks. IU must win four of its last five games to become bowl eligible. Next up is a trip to top-10 Penn State, which is coming off a Saturday loss at Ohio State.

"We'll go back to work," linebacker Aaron Casey said. "We still have five games left."

Added Allen: "We have another opportunity next week, but it's about us right now. We have to band together. That's what we'll do. We'll lock arms and fight."

Still, is the season slipping away?

"It's a reality when you get to this stage," Allen said. "It's a tough reality. We don't hide from it. We've got to do a better job as coaches and players. It's all of us together."

In the first half, Rutgers blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown. With less than a minute left in the first half, Jaylin Lucas fumbled a punt return, the Scarlet Knights recovered and turned it into a field goal. That was enough to give them a 17-14 halftime lead.

Allen called the blocked punt "inexcusable."

For the second-straight week, IU's offense started strong.

Quick passes. No huddle. Up tempo. Bold play calling.

It was all on display on the game's opening drive. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby was 6-for-7 for 58 yards (completing passes to five difference receivers), capped by a 35-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Omar Cooper Jr. on fourth and five. Running back Christian Turner added 17 yards on two carries.

The Hoosiers led 7-0. Could they sustain that efficiency?

They could not.

"We all have a job to do," Cooper said. "We've got to keep working. We have to figure out what we're having trouble with, and get better at it."

Sorsby finished 15-for-31 for 126 yards and one touchdown. He rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown.

"He did some good things," Allen said. "He has to continue to grow and develop. That's the key.

"He earned the right to start. We still have to generate more. We're not good enough in the throw game to score points.

"We have to build off what he's doing well."

In the second half, Rutgers wore down the Hoosiers with their running game and outscored them 14-0.

Scarlet Knights quarterback Gavin Wimsatt threw for 39 yards, rushed for 143.

"They're a heavy run team," Toomer said. "The defense was on the field a long time. We have to lock in on the details. Everyone has to do his job."

Casey said IU prepared for Rutgers rushing attack.

"We knew what was coming. We have to do a better job of stopping it. We have to execute the whole play, whistle to whistle."

IU took that early 7-0 lead. Rutgers countered with run-heavy touchdown drive and a blocked punt for a TD and a 14-7 lead.

The Hoosier defense provided a second-quarter spark by stopping the Scarlet Knights on fourth-and-two near midfield. The offense responded for the tying touchdown, the last four yards on a Sorsby run.

Lucas' fumble while trying to catch a punt just before halftime set up a Rutgers field goal for a 17-14 halftime score.

Rutgers opened the third quarter with another run-heavy touchdown drive for a 24-14 lead, then made it 31-14 early in the fourth quarter on Wimsatt's 80-yard TD run.

Hoosier comeback hopes were finished.

"At this stage, guys get down," Allen said. "They get discouraged. We have to battle that. It comes from players and coaches. There's no doubt they're frustrated. They have to keep battling. Keep fighting.

"You rely on the character of your guys. You stand in the face of adversity, whether it's self-inflicted or not. It comes back to every day keep working."