Indiana University Athletics
Friday, September 6
Bloomington, Ind.
7 P.M.
Indiana University
vs
Western Illinois
Game Notes: host Western Illinois
9/2/2024 5:00:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – After a season-opening victory in Week 1, the Indiana football program returns to Memorial Stadium for a Friday (Sept. 6) matchup with FCS Western Illinois. The game will kick at 7 p.m. ET and air on the Big Ten Network.
INDIANA (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts Western Illinois (1-0)
Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)
Friday, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network | RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network
Setting the Scene
• Indiana is set to host Western Illinois for the first meeting in program history on Friday night at 7 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium (52,626; Field Turf) on Big Ten Network.
• This will be Indiana's seventh ever Friday night game and the third-straight season that the Hoosiers have played in one.
• Since the FCS (former Division I-AA) was formed in 1978, Indiana is 17-1 against opponents from the division. The Hoosiers have won 14 straight games against FCS opponents.
• This will be Indiana's second of eight home games at Memorial Stadium this season, tied for its most in program history with the 2013 and 2008 seasons.
By The Numbers
15 - Curt Cignetti became the 15th head coach in program history to win the first game of his Indiana tenure. MORE ON PAGE 4
7 - Indiana will play its seventh ever Friday football game when it faces Western Illinois. MORE ON PAGE 4
4 - The Hoosiers have four seventh-year seniors, the most in the FBS. MORE ON PAGE 6
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 enters the game with a 1-0 record after defeating FIU, 31-7, in Week 1. Curt Cignetti became the 15th head coach in program history to win the first game of his Indiana tenure. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Indiana opened the season with a non-conference home game for the first time since 2015 and improved to 26-3 in season-opening non-conference home games since 1953 (the modern era of the Big Ten Conference).
• Twelve Hoosier transfers made their first start at Indiana and twenty-six transfer student-athletes made their Indiana debut in Week 1 against FIU.
• 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
• Three Hoosiers made their first career start: OL Drew Evans, DB Amare Ferrell and OL Bray Lynch. Ferrell also picked off his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
• Indiana opened Week 1 against FIU with a 21-0 advantage through the 4:53 mark of the second quarter. Redshirt senior Kurtis Rourke went 15-for-24 passing with 180 yards and a touchdown. His 9-yard touchdown connection with Zach Horton in the first quarter was Indiana's first score of the 2024 season.
• Indiana's 234 team rushing yards are the most by a Hoosier backfield since 257 yards at Michigan State (11/19) in 2022.
• Redshirt senior Ty Son Lawton took 16 carries for 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It was the sixth multi-touchdown game of his career. He has at least one multi-touchdown game at all three schools which he has attended (Stony Brook, 2019-22; James Madison, 2023; Indiana, 2024).
• Junior Elijah Sarratt moved his consecutive games with a catch streak to 26 straight games with his first reception on the game's opening play.
• 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. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Indiana is tied for the ninth-fewest returning players in the FBS along and tied for third-fewest returning scholarship players. MORE ON PAGE 5
• The Indiana offensive line was the only Oline in the Power 4 with multiple players among the top-10 in pass protection grade per Pro Football Focus in Week 1. Redshirt sophomore Carter Smith led the Power 4 with a 89.2 grade, while redshirt sophomore Bray Lunch ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 7 in the Power 4 at 87.8 per Pro Football Focus.
INDIANA (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts Western Illinois (1-0)
Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, Ind.)
Friday, Sept. 6 | 7 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network | RADIO: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network
Setting the Scene
• Indiana is set to host Western Illinois for the first meeting in program history on Friday night at 7 p.m. inside Memorial Stadium (52,626; Field Turf) on Big Ten Network.
• This will be Indiana's seventh ever Friday night game and the third-straight season that the Hoosiers have played in one.
• Since the FCS (former Division I-AA) was formed in 1978, Indiana is 17-1 against opponents from the division. The Hoosiers have won 14 straight games against FCS opponents.
• This will be Indiana's second of eight home games at Memorial Stadium this season, tied for its most in program history with the 2013 and 2008 seasons.
By The Numbers
15 - Curt Cignetti became the 15th head coach in program history to win the first game of his Indiana tenure. MORE ON PAGE 4
7 - Indiana will play its seventh ever Friday football game when it faces Western Illinois. MORE ON PAGE 4
4 - The Hoosiers have four seventh-year seniors, the most in the FBS. MORE ON PAGE 6
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 enters the game with a 1-0 record after defeating FIU, 31-7, in Week 1. Curt Cignetti became the 15th head coach in program history to win the first game of his Indiana tenure. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Indiana opened the season with a non-conference home game for the first time since 2015 and improved to 26-3 in season-opening non-conference home games since 1953 (the modern era of the Big Ten Conference).
• Twelve Hoosier transfers made their first start at Indiana and twenty-six transfer student-athletes made their Indiana debut in Week 1 against FIU.
• 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
• Three Hoosiers made their first career start: OL Drew Evans, DB Amare Ferrell and OL Bray Lynch. Ferrell also picked off his first career interception in the fourth quarter.
• Indiana opened Week 1 against FIU with a 21-0 advantage through the 4:53 mark of the second quarter. Redshirt senior Kurtis Rourke went 15-for-24 passing with 180 yards and a touchdown. His 9-yard touchdown connection with Zach Horton in the first quarter was Indiana's first score of the 2024 season.
• Indiana's 234 team rushing yards are the most by a Hoosier backfield since 257 yards at Michigan State (11/19) in 2022.
• Redshirt senior Ty Son Lawton took 16 carries for 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns. It was the sixth multi-touchdown game of his career. He has at least one multi-touchdown game at all three schools which he has attended (Stony Brook, 2019-22; James Madison, 2023; Indiana, 2024).
• Junior Elijah Sarratt moved his consecutive games with a catch streak to 26 straight games with his first reception on the game's opening play.
• 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. MORE ON PAGE 4
• Indiana is tied for the ninth-fewest returning players in the FBS along and tied for third-fewest returning scholarship players. MORE ON PAGE 5
• The Indiana offensive line was the only Oline in the Power 4 with multiple players among the top-10 in pass protection grade per Pro Football Focus in Week 1. Redshirt sophomore Carter Smith led the Power 4 with a 89.2 grade, while redshirt sophomore Bray Lunch ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 7 in the Power 4 at 87.8 per Pro Football Focus.
Players Mentioned
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