Indiana University Athletics
Saturday, August 31
Bloomington, Ind.
3:30 P.M.
Indiana University
vs
FIU
Game Notes: host FIU
8/26/2024 9:29:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A new era of Indiana football will kick off on Saturday (Aug. 31) inside Memorial Stadium as first-year head coach Curt Cignetti will lead the program into the 2024 season opener against FIU. The game will kick at 3:30 p.m. ET and air on the Big Ten Network.
INDIANA (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts FIU (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)
Saturday, Aug 31 | 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network | RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network
Setting the Scene
• Indiana is set to open the 2024 season under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti with a home date against FIU on Saturday (Aug. 31) at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
• The matchup marks the first time the two programs have faced one another since 2018, when the Hoosiers defeated FIU, 38-28, in a road contest in Miami. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the teams. Indiana leads the all-time series, 3-0.
• The home contest marks the first of eight home games for the Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium this season, tied for its most in program history with the 2013 and 2008 season.
• Indiana will open a season with a home non-conference game for the first time since 2015. Overall, in non-conference home season openers, Indiana owns a 25-3 overall mark since 1953 - the first year the Big Ten fielded 10 teams in the conference.
• The Hoosiers have won 11 straight non-conference home season openers dating back to a 41-38 loss against NC State to start the 2000 season.
By The Numbers
4 - The Hoosiers have four seventh-year seniors, the most in the FBS. MORE ON PAGE 6
54 - Indiana has 54 total newcomers in 2024 and is one of 28 FBS programs with 50-plus newcomers. MORE ON PAGE 5
9 - Indiana will play a non-conference home opener for the first time in nine seasons. The last non-conference home opener was to start the 2015 season.
13 - Thirteen of IU's scholarship newcomers arrived with first-year head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison. MORE ON PAGE 6
News & Notes
• Indiana overhauled its roster in 2024, as head coach Curt Cignetti brought in 54 newcomers, which includes 30 transfers. Thirteen of those transfers arrived from James Madison.
• Indiana is tied for the ninth-fewest returning players in the FBS along and tied for third-fewest returning scholarship players.
• Of Indiana's 30 transfers, the list includes 13 defensive players, 15 offensive players and two specialists. There are 29 players from Division I (28 FBS, 1 FCS) and one from the Division III level. MORE ON PAGE 5
• Nine of Indiana's 10 on-field assistant coaches are new for the 2024 season, with offensive line coach/run game coordinator Bob Bostad the only holdover. Bryant Haines (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) and Mike Shanahan (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers) will lead the Hoosier defense and offense, respectively. MORE ON PAGE 18
• The 10 on-field assistants for the Hoosiers rank No. 4 in the FBS and No. 2 in the Power 4 in average age at 38.2 years old. Only Georgia Tech (33.2) has a younger group of assistant coaches.
• Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt arrives in Bloomington for his junior season after a breakout 2022 campaign at James Madison. In his sophomore showing during the 2023 season, Sarratt totaled 1,191 yards receiving on 82 receptions with eight touchdowns to earn All-Sun Belt first team.
• Senior Donaven McCulley enjoyed a breakout junior year in 2023 - only his second season at wide receiver after transitioning in 2022 from quarterback. The Indianapolis native charted six touchdown receptions and 644 yards receiving to garner honorable mention All-Big Ten from the conference's coaches and media panel. MORE ON PAGE 9
• Indiana's defensive line picked up transfers Mikail Kamara (James Madison) and CJ West (Kent State) to bolster its unit. The duo combined for 31.5 tackles for loss in 2023, with Kamara a second-team All-Sun Belt pick and West an All-Mid-American selection per PFF. MORE ON PAGE 12
• Senior punter James Evans enters the 2024 season as Indiana's career leader in punting average at 43.9 yards per punt. That total sits more than a full yard in front of Alan Sutkowski's 42.5 yard average from 1995-97.
INDIANA (0-0, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts FIU (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)
Saturday, Aug 31 | 3:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network | RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network
Setting the Scene
• Indiana is set to open the 2024 season under first-year head coach Curt Cignetti with a home date against FIU on Saturday (Aug. 31) at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
• The matchup marks the first time the two programs have faced one another since 2018, when the Hoosiers defeated FIU, 38-28, in a road contest in Miami. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the teams. Indiana leads the all-time series, 3-0.
• The home contest marks the first of eight home games for the Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium this season, tied for its most in program history with the 2013 and 2008 season.
• Indiana will open a season with a home non-conference game for the first time since 2015. Overall, in non-conference home season openers, Indiana owns a 25-3 overall mark since 1953 - the first year the Big Ten fielded 10 teams in the conference.
• The Hoosiers have won 11 straight non-conference home season openers dating back to a 41-38 loss against NC State to start the 2000 season.
By The Numbers
4 - The Hoosiers have four seventh-year seniors, the most in the FBS. MORE ON PAGE 6
54 - Indiana has 54 total newcomers in 2024 and is one of 28 FBS programs with 50-plus newcomers. MORE ON PAGE 5
9 - Indiana will play a non-conference home opener for the first time in nine seasons. The last non-conference home opener was to start the 2015 season.
13 - Thirteen of IU's scholarship newcomers arrived with first-year head coach Curt Cignetti from James Madison. MORE ON PAGE 6
News & Notes
• Indiana overhauled its roster in 2024, as head coach Curt Cignetti brought in 54 newcomers, which includes 30 transfers. Thirteen of those transfers arrived from James Madison.
• Indiana is tied for the ninth-fewest returning players in the FBS along and tied for third-fewest returning scholarship players.
• Of Indiana's 30 transfers, the list includes 13 defensive players, 15 offensive players and two specialists. There are 29 players from Division I (28 FBS, 1 FCS) and one from the Division III level. MORE ON PAGE 5
• Nine of Indiana's 10 on-field assistant coaches are new for the 2024 season, with offensive line coach/run game coordinator Bob Bostad the only holdover. Bryant Haines (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) and Mike Shanahan (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers) will lead the Hoosier defense and offense, respectively. MORE ON PAGE 18
• The 10 on-field assistants for the Hoosiers rank No. 4 in the FBS and No. 2 in the Power 4 in average age at 38.2 years old. Only Georgia Tech (33.2) has a younger group of assistant coaches.
• Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt arrives in Bloomington for his junior season after a breakout 2022 campaign at James Madison. In his sophomore showing during the 2023 season, Sarratt totaled 1,191 yards receiving on 82 receptions with eight touchdowns to earn All-Sun Belt first team.
• Senior Donaven McCulley enjoyed a breakout junior year in 2023 - only his second season at wide receiver after transitioning in 2022 from quarterback. The Indianapolis native charted six touchdown receptions and 644 yards receiving to garner honorable mention All-Big Ten from the conference's coaches and media panel. MORE ON PAGE 9
• Indiana's defensive line picked up transfers Mikail Kamara (James Madison) and CJ West (Kent State) to bolster its unit. The duo combined for 31.5 tackles for loss in 2023, with Kamara a second-team All-Sun Belt pick and West an All-Mid-American selection per PFF. MORE ON PAGE 12
• Senior punter James Evans enters the 2024 season as Indiana's career leader in punting average at 43.9 yards per punt. That total sits more than a full yard in front of Alan Sutkowski's 42.5 yard average from 1995-97.
Players Mentioned
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