Rutgers uses incredible rally to shock Indiana 55-52

Coupled with a recent skid where the Hoosiers (4-2, 0-2) were most recently bounced out of Penn State in a sloppy 29-7 loss – similar to Rutgers’ 28-3 falter on September 19 in Happy Valley – this game holds equal weight for both teams.

Indiana scored four touchdowns to open the second half Saturday to build a 52-27 lead on Rutgers.

But this comeback seemed even more improbable after Indiana went 66 yards for a touchdown to make it a 52-27 lead with 5:25 left in the third quarter.

The Scarlet Knights finished it off with a flurry of scoring punches. The Indiana Hoosiers passing attack has averaged 312.7 yards per game (No. 28) compared to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defence that ranks No. 15 give up through the air (141.0 yards per game on average).

But the record-tying comeback was only part of a wild and insane day that could have been much easier for Rutgers if Federico could have avoided having two extra points blocked.

Carroo appeared to injure his right ankle when an Indiana defensive back rolled over him on his 43-yard scoring reception late in the third quarter. Mike Majette finished with 83 yards rushing, another career high.

Sudfeld was next intercepted by Isaiah Wharton, leading to a Robert Martin touchdown run.

Indiana piled up a few big numbers, too.

Sudfeld was 32 of 42 for a career high 464 yards with four TDs for Indiana (4-3, 0-3), which lost its third straight.

Anthony Cioffi picked off Sudfeld on the first play of Indiana’s next drive, and this time Paul James was the one to cash in the turnover with a 40-yard scurry of his own to tie it up just past the halfway mark of the fourth.

Mitchell Paige had eight receptions for 126 yards, Ricky Jones had six for 119 and a TD, and Simmie Cobbs, Jr. had seven grabs for 107 yards for the Hoosiers.

The Knights improved to 3-3 with the win. “We can finish games a lot better”. Running back Devine Redding, still spelling the injured Jordan Howard, rushed 66 yards for a touchdown to give the Hoosiers 52 points and a 25-point lead with five and a half minutes to play in the third.

After the win, Rutgers’ Director of Recruiting E.J. Barthel captured video of the team and head coach Kyle Flood singing the university’s alma mater with the contingent of fans that made the trek to Bloomington. If things go well for IU, I think the Hoosiers win 38-31.