The Day the Monarchs Almost Stunned Bloomington
So, the Indiana Hoosiers were supposed to have a cakewalk. That’s what the betting lines said. Heading into the season opener on August 30, 2025, the Hoosiers were a massive 23.5-point favorite. Basically, everyone expected a blowout. But if you actually watched Old Dominion vs Indiana, you know that the final score of 27-14 doesn't even come close to telling the full story of how stressful that afternoon at Memorial Stadium really was.
It was 15:00 on the clock in the first quarter when things got weird. Colton Joseph, the ODU quarterback who plays like he’s got a rocket strapped to his cleats, took off. 75 yards later, the "heavy underdog" Monarchs were leading 7-0. The stadium went quiet. Honestly, you could feel the collective "uh oh" from the 47,000 people in the stands.
Why the Scoreboard Lied About Old Dominion vs Indiana
Indiana eventually won. They ground it out. But let’s be real—if it weren't for Jonathan Brady’s 91-yard punt return touchdown in the first quarter, the Hoosiers might have been in serious trouble. That one play shifted the momentum when the offense was still trying to wake up.
The stats were actually pretty lopsided in a way the score wasn't. Indiana dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for over 41 minutes. That’s insane. They ran the ball 57 times for 309 yards. It was a "ground and pound" clinic led by Roman Hemby and the rest of the backfield. Yet, they kept stalling in the red zone. Nico Radicic had to come out for field goals of 22 and 25 yards because the Hoosiers couldn't find the end zone when it mattered most.
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- Total Rushing Yards: IU 309, ODU (mostly two plays).
- Time of Possession: 41:28 for the Hoosiers.
- The Colton Joseph Factor: Two carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Outside of those two runs, ODU had almost nothing.
It was a classic case of a team being "stout but vulnerable." Indiana’s defense was actually great for 58 of the 60 minutes. But those two lapses—the 75-yarder and a 78-yarder by Joseph in the fourth—made the game feel like a nail-biter.
The Fernando Mendoza Era Begins
Everyone was looking at Fernando Mendoza. The transfer quarterback had all the hype coming off a historic 2024 for the Hoosiers. Was he perfect? No. He threw for 193 yards and looked a bit out of sync with his receivers on the deep balls. He did rush for a 5-yard score, but you could tell the chemistry wasn't quite there yet.
Kaelon Black added a 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give IU some breathing room at 24-7, but the Monarchs refused to go away quietly.
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Breaking Down the Defensive Standouts
Lewis Moore was the man of the hour on the defensive side. He racked up 7 tackles and a critical interception. The secondary, despite concerns about injuries to guys like D'Angelo Ponds, held up reasonably well against the pass. They forced three interceptions total. When you force three turnovers and give up only 14 points, you usually expect to win by thirty. The fact that ODU kept it to a 13-point margin says a lot about their grit.
What This Means for Both Programs
For Old Dominion, this was a "quality loss." If there is such a thing. They proved they can hang with a Big Ten powerhouse, even if it was mostly on the back of one explosive playmaker. Ricky Rahne has something special in Colton Joseph. If they can find any semblance of a passing game to complement his legs, they’ll be a problem in the Sun Belt this year.
For Indiana, it was a wake-up call. Coach Curt Cignetti was blunt after the game: "Wins are hard to get." He wasn't celebrating a masterpiece. He was celebrating survival. The Hoosiers dropped a few spots in the AP poll after this game, falling from 20th to 23rd. Voters clearly weren't impressed by the red-zone struggles.
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Key Takeaways from the Matchup
- The Run Game is Legit: 309 yards is no joke. Indiana's offensive line is a unit.
- Red Zone Woes: You can't settle for short field goals against better teams.
- Speed Kills: Colton Joseph is probably the fastest QB Indiana will see all year.
- Special Teams Savior: Jonathan Brady’s punt return was the literal difference-maker.
If you're looking at the Old Dominion vs Indiana rivalry, or lack thereof, this was the first time these two ever met on the gridiron. It set a high bar for future non-conference scheduling. It wasn't the "soft landing" the media predicted for the Hoosiers' season opener.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or following these teams the rest of the season, watch the injury reports on the Indiana secondary. The "Bonds injury watch" is a real thing that could impact their Big Ten standings. For ODU fans, keep an eye on the junior college transfers at wide receiver. They need to start winning one-on-one battles to take the pressure off Joseph’s legs.
The next step for Indiana is fixing the timing between Mendoza and his deep threats before they hit the meat of the Big Ten schedule. They can't afford to leave points on the field when they're playing teams like Ohio State or Michigan later this winter.