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Indiana Survives Northwestern Scare as Beebe Runs for 203
By @sharedot · · 7 pages
Three-touchdown favorite Indiana nearly lost to Northwestern in its Big Ten opener before Lee Beebe Jr.'s 203-yard night rescued a 29-23 win.
What Happened in Bloomington
The reigning national champion and No. 4 Hoosiers (4-0) entered Friday night as three-touchdown favorites over Northwestern but needed every snap to escape 29-23 at Memorial Stadium. Indiana led just 12-0 at the half despite holding the Wildcats to -5 rushing yards, and the lead evaporated to a single possession in the fourth quarter. Fans chanted Lee Beebe Jr.'s name as he walked off the field after his career-best night. (Source: Fox News, IndyStar)
Why the Scare Was So Surprising
The Hoosiers also had never been truly challenged at home under Cignetti, per Yahoo Sports, and Cignetti himself bristled at criticism of the win, telling antsy fans not to complain about a 38-0 win earlier this season — this time there was no such cushion. (Source: Yahoo Sports, Fox News)
The Evidence: Beebe Carries the Load
With Turbo Richard sidelined by a right ankle injury after a late hit out of bounds, Beebe became the only healthy scholarship back with experience — and he responded with 203 rushing yards, per Fox News, including 144 in the fourth quarter according to IndyStar. His 39-yard burst set up one touchdown, and his career-long 70-yard run, ending with a stiff-arm of Northwestern DB Robert Fitzgerald, set up another. He is the first IU back to top 200 yards since Stevie Scott in 2008, per IndyStar. (Source: Fox News, IndyStar)
The Stakes for the Hoosiers
Indiana's running back depth is now a genuine concern: Khobie Martin is out with an arm injury, Richard left with an ankle issue, and the roster's imposing three-back rotation has thinned to Beebe, per Yahoo Sports and IndyStar. Indiana also committed nearly triple its season average of three penalties, per Fox News, including a holding call that gift-wrapped Northwestern a touchdown. Quarterback Josh Hoover was uneven in the air, and Northwestern QB Aidan Chiles out-averaged him per pass attempt — an alarming sign with tougher opponents ahead. (Source: Yahoo Sports, Fox News, IndyStar)
What Comes Next
The schedule gives no breather: road trips to Rutgers and Nebraska precede an October 17 showdown with Ohio State, per Fox News. The team's dominant run defense — which held Northwestern to 32 yards on 27 carries, per Yahoo Sports — remains the foundation, but whether the offense and backfield can hold up in Big Ten play is now the defining question of the season. (Source: Fox News, Yahoo Sports)