Nobody saw this coming. Seriously. If you had told an Indiana fan in August that they’d be watching their team play a meaningful football game in South Bend two days before Christmas, they would have laughed in your face.
But that’s exactly what happened.
The indiana hoosiers football schedule 2024 didn't just look different on paper because of the new Big Ten expansion; it felt different because of one man: Curt Cignetti. He walked into Bloomington and basically told everyone to Google him. Then he went out and backed it up with the most insane season in the 126-year history of the program. 11 wins. A top-10 finish. A literal spot in the College Football Playoff.
It was a fever dream that became reality.
Breaking Down the 11-2 Run
Most seasons in Bloomington follow a predictable, somewhat depressing script. You win the cupcakes, maybe steal one against a middle-of-the-pack Big Ten team, and then get hammered by the blue bloods.
2024 took that script and shredded it.
The season kicked off at Memorial Stadium on August 31 with a 31-7 win over FIU. It was fine, honestly. A bit vanilla, but a win. Then came the Western Illinois game on September 6. That wasn’t a football game; it was a 77-3 demolition. IU put up 701 yards of offense. It was the moment some of us started thinking, "Wait, is this actually happening?"
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September continued to be a blur of high-scoring blowouts.
- at UCLA (Sept 14): A 42-13 statement in the Rose Bowl. The Hoosiers made a storied program look like they didn't belong on the same field.
- Charlotte (Sept 21): A casual 52-14 victory.
- Maryland (Sept 28): Things got a little tighter, but IU still walked away with a 42-28 win.
By the time the calendar flipped to October, the "Cignetti Effect" was in full force. The Hoosiers traveled to Northwestern on October 5 and won 41-24, securing their first 6-0 start in decades.
The Mid-Season Magic
After a bye week, the schedule got "real." Or so the skeptics said. Nebraska came to town on October 19 for Homecoming. Most expected a grind-it-out game. Instead, Indiana humiliated them 56-7. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff was there. The stadium was packed. The vibe was electric.
Then came the Washington game on October 26. This was the first time College GameDay ever broadcasted from Bloomington for a Saturday football game. Think about that. Decades of football, and it took 2024 to get Corso and the crew to campus. Indiana won 31-17, even with starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke sidelined with a thumb injury. Tayven Jackson stepped in, and the defense just suffocated the Huskies.
Indiana Hoosiers football schedule 2024: Crucial November Tests
The undefeated dream stayed alive through early November. The Hoosiers went to East Lansing and dismantled Michigan State 47-10. Then came the defending national champions, Michigan, on November 9.
This was the gut-check game.
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It wasn’t pretty. The offense struggled, managing only 20 points. But the defense? They were elite. They held the Wolverines to 15 points, and when the clock hit zero, Indiana was 10-0. Ten wins! For a program that had never even hit double digits in a single season before.
Honestly, the city of Bloomington felt like it was on another planet.
Of course, the road to the Big Ten title went through Columbus. On November 23, the Hoosiers finally hit a wall. Ohio State’s talent gap was just too much, resulting in a 38-15 loss. It hurt, but it didn't break them. They bounced back on November 30 by absolutely embarrassing Purdue 66-0 to reclaim the Old Oaken Bucket.
The Playoff Appearance and What Went Wrong
Because of that 11-1 regular season, the Hoosiers earned the No. 10 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. Their reward? A trip to South Bend to face No. 7 Notre Dame on December 20.
The atmosphere was incredible. It was the first meeting between these two in over 30 years. Unfortunately, the dream ended there. A 27-17 loss to the Irish was a tough pill to swallow, but it couldn't erase what had been accomplished.
The stats from this season are actually kind of mind-blowing:
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- Scoring Offense: 41.3 points per game (2nd in the nation).
- Total Defense: 256.3 yards allowed per game (2nd in the nation).
- Rushing Defense: 80.2 yards allowed (1st in the nation).
- Kurtis Rourke: 3,042 passing yards and 29 touchdowns.
Why This Schedule Mattered
People like to complain about "strength of schedule," and the talking heads definitely did that to Indiana all year. They pointed out that IU didn't play Penn State or Oregon in the regular season.
So what?
You can only play who is in front of you. In the past, Indiana would have found a way to lose to Maryland or stub their toe in East Lansing. This team didn't just win; they dominated. They had an average scoring margin of +25.7, which led the entire country. You don't do that by accident.
What to Do Next as a Fan
The 2024 season wasn't a fluke—it was a foundation. If you’re looking to keep the momentum going, start by securing your season tickets for 2025 early. The "cheap" seats are a thing of the past now that the secret is out. Also, keep a close eye on the transfer portal this winter; Cignetti has proven he can rebuild a roster faster than almost anyone in the country.
Watching the 2024 replay highlights on the Big Ten Network is a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, but the real work is looking at how the 2025 schedule shapes up with even tougher matchups. Get your gear now, because Bloomington is officially a football town.