Indiana football’s 2025 national championship season? That’s one for the ages. Under head coach Curt Cignetti, the Hoosiers pulled off a wild 16-0 run—snagging the national title, the Big Ten crown, the Rose Bowl, and celebrating their first Heisman Trophy winner.
It’s hard to overstate how much this season flipped the script for Indiana. Peegs.com is counting down the 10 greatest moments from this unforgettable ride—think D’Angelo Ponds’ pick-six in the Peach Bowl or Fernando Mendoza’s game-winning run in the title game.
Today, we’re looking at the No. 8 moment: Elijah Sarratt’s 49-yard, game-winning touchdown catch against Iowa. This play? Pure grit and guts, and honestly, it sums up everything that made this team special.
Indiana’s Unlikely Victory at Kinnick Stadium
Indiana’s perfect season almost unraveled way earlier than anyone expected. Just a week after crushing No. 9 Illinois 63-10 in their Big Ten opener, the Hoosiers walked into a much tougher fight on the road at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium.
Oddsmakers figured Indiana would roll, but Iowa had other ideas. The Hoosiers suddenly found themselves locked in one of their nastiest battles of the year.
The Game’s Tense Beginning
Right from the jump, Iowa’s defense came out swinging at Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers. The Hawkeyes kept blitzing, and Indiana’s run game just stalled out.
The tension only grew as the game dragged on. Neither side could pull away, and the score stayed tight, setting up a nail-biting fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter Drama
They entered the fourth quarter tied at 13. Both teams traded punts and field goals, and the nerves were obvious.
Louis Moore picked off a pass to give Indiana hope, but Mendoza threw it right back to Iowa. The Hawkeyes looked ready to ice it with a field goal.
The Turning Point
With less than two minutes left, Iowa’s kicker Drew Stevens lined up for a 42-yarder. He missed left. Indiana suddenly had a shot.
Mendoza wasted no time, hitting Elijah Sarratt for 24 yards to jumpstart the drive. You could feel the momentum shift.
The Game-Winning Play
Indiana reached midfield, but Iowa’s defense dialed up the pressure. On a huge 3rd-and-10, Mendoza faced a blitz and fired to Sarratt.
Sarratt made an incredible catch, broke a tackle, and tore down the sideline for a 49-yard touchdown. It was wild. Indiana hadn’t won at Kinnick in 18 years, and this play slammed the door shut.
Significance of the Victory
This win over Iowa wasn’t just another W. It showed the Hoosiers could take a punch and keep fighting.
Players still talk about this game as the moment they started believing a national title was possible.
Key Takeaways
- Resilience: Indiana kept their cool, even when things looked bleak.
- Team Effort: This was a win built on everyone—players, coaches, all of them.
- Historic Achievement: Beating Iowa on the road was a huge step toward that first national championship.
For more on Indiana’s wild 2025 season and other big moments, check out Peegs.com.
Conclusion
Indiana’s 2025 season will stick in college football history. The Hoosiers pulled off an improbable victory over Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, and honestly, nobody saw that coming.
That win really showed off their grit and determination. There were some wild plays and clutch moments that made the whole thing possible.
People are still talking about this historic run. If you care about college football at all, you’ll want to keep an eye out for more highlights and stories from Indiana’s wild journey to the national championship.
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