Indiana vs. Michigan State: Hoosiers Stay Humble and Hungry in 38-13 Win
Two days before the Hoosiers’ 38–13 win, head coach Curt Cignetti sensed something was off. Thursday’s practice was sloppy, energy was down, and the scent of overconfidence hung in the air. Indiana had just toppled Oregon — perhaps the biggest win in school history — and that can make even the most grounded team a little lightheaded.
Cignetti wasn’t about to let that happen. So, after practice, he gave his players a fiery, unfiltered talk about focus, humility, and human nature — the kind that burns the fog off a team’s mindset. By Saturday, the Hoosiers looked nothing like the distracted group from Thursday.
Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher, one of the team’s emotional anchors, admitted that the players had been “scared” — not of Michigan State, but of falling into a trap game. That fear turned into discipline after Cignetti’s speech. “He didn’t want us feeling too good about ourselves,” Fisher said. “We had to get humble again.”
Cignetti’s blunt approach worked. Indiana came out shaky, trailing 10–7 midway through the second quarter after a sluggish defensive start. But then quarterback Fernando Mendoza took control. He delivered one of his best games yet — 24-of-28 passing for 332 yards and four touchdowns. The Hoosiers ripped off 31 unanswered points, burying Michigan State and silencing any whispers of a hangover.
Receivers Elijah Sarratt, Omar Cooper Jr., and E.J. Williams Jr. all found the end zone, while running back Kaelon Black added a late rushing score as Indiana’s offense rolled to 132 yards on the ground. The Spartans didn’t score again until a meaningless field goal in the final seconds — long after the Hoosiers had reclaimed the Old Brass Spittoon and celebrated in the rain with fans.
Yet for all the touchdowns and highlight throws, Indiana’s most important win came before kickoff. Cignetti’s message — that success is a breeding ground for complacency — hit home. “You have to fight it every day,” Fisher said. “You can’t let the noise get in.”
And there’s been plenty of noise. Indiana entered the week ranked No. 3, the highest mark in school history. Rumors swirled that Penn State wanted to lure Cignetti away after firing James Franklin. Instead, he signed an eight-year deal worth $11.6 million per season, keeping him in Bloomington — and immediately reminded his players that success is fragile.
After the game, Cignetti quoted Duke legend Mike Krzyzewski: “The toughest opponent you’ll ever face is human nature.” His team didn’t just hear that — they lived it.
Indiana’s win over Michigan State won’t earn the headlines that the Oregon upset did, but it might be the more telling one. It showed that Cignetti has built not just a winning program, but a resilient one — capable of tuning out hype, pressure, and distraction.
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