IU football kept finding ways to win Saturday afternoon, overcoming another tight matchup to defeat No. 18 USC 27-13 at Memorial Stadium.
After entering halftime tied 10-10, the Hoosiers gradually took control with a revitalized rushing attack, timely defensive stops and a strong performance from quarterback Grant Wilson in his first start at Indiana.
The victory improved Indiana to 9-1, strengthening its College Football Playoff aspirations with two regular-season games remaining.
Here are five takeaways from the Hoosiers’ victory:
Grant Wilson answers the call in his first start
After two weeks of uncertainty surrounding Indiana’s quarterback situation, head coach Curt Cignetti elected to start Grant Wilson over Josh Hoover, a decision he said he made after the Hoosiers’ overtime win over Minnesota.
Wilson received all the first-team practice reps leading up to Saturday, though Cignetti delivered the news relatively straightforwardly.
“(Cignetti) pulled me aside at the beginning of the week in practice, and he said, ‘You’re gonna go with the ones.’ And then he walked away,” Wilson said.
The seventh-year quarterback rewarded that confidence, completing 17 of 27 passes for 305 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Wilson wasted little time making his presence felt, connecting with Shazz Preston for a 47-yard gain before finding tight end Brock Schott for a 13-yard touchdown on Indiana’s opening possession.
His willingness to attack downfield was evident throughout the afternoon, highlighted by a 65-yard completion to Nick Marsh and a 42-yard touchdown connection with Charlie Becker that ultimately put the game out of reach.
While Wilson wasn’t flawless, his ability to generate explosive plays provided Indiana with an offensive dimension that had been missing in recent weeks.
Khobie Martin provides a much-needed spark in the backfield
Indiana’s rushing attack struggled to establish consistency in recent weeks, but Khobie Martin’s return provided a significant boost against USC.
After suffering an injury on the second play of the season opener, Martin had seen limited action entering Saturday. Against the Trojans, he rushed for a team-high 82 yards on 12 carries, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt.
His biggest contribution came late in the third quarter, when he broke free for a 37-yard run before scoring on a 1-yard touchdown to give Indiana a 20-13 advantage.
Martin’s emergence complemented another physical performance from Lee Beebe Jr., who added 71 yards on 16 carries.
“We were starting to lean on them a little bit and wear on them,” Cignetti said. “It takes the run game time normally. By the end, we pretty much had our way with it.”
With Turbo Richard sidelined and Beebe playing through injuries, Martin’s explosiveness, physicality and “fresh legs” give Indiana another valuable option as the postseason approaches.
Indiana’s defense delivers again, with Isaiah Jones and Jacob Savage leading the way
When Indiana has needed a defensive stop this season, someone has consistently answered the call.
Saturday was no different, and this time, linebacker Isaiah Jones delivered perhaps the game’s most consequential play.
With USC trailing 20-13 midway through the fourth quarter, the Trojans marched deep into Indiana territory, threatening to erase the Hoosiers’ advantage. On second-and-6 from Indiana’s 6-yard line, Jones jumped the route and intercepted quarterback Jayden Maiava, eliminating the scoring opportunity.
“That was maybe the huge play of the night,” Cignetti said. “He’s a playmaker. It was a key, clutch play.”
Indiana forced three interceptions and held USC to just 13 points despite giving up 409 yards of offense. The Trojans reached the red zone five times but managed only one touchdown.
Another encouraging performance came from true freshman linebacker Jacob Savage, who started in place of the injured Rolijah Hardy.
Savage led Indiana with 13 tackles, including one for loss and recorded a crucial pass breakup.
“He’s a mature guy,” Cignetti said. “The guy just loves ball and he’s got a nose for the ball and instincts, and he’s really, really smart.”
For Savage, Indiana’s defensive success comes down to a mentality instilled throughout the unit.
“It’s just our bend-don’t-break mentality,” Savage said. “Coach Haynes says as long as we have a yard of green grass, we’re going to stop them to the best of our abilities. And I think we all kind of buy into that.”
That belief has repeatedly manifested itself in critical situations, with Indiana consistently finding ways to prevent opposing offenses from translating yards into points.
Third-down execution fuels Indiana’s improvement
After struggling to sustain drives in recent weeks, Indiana rediscovered its effectiveness in critical situations against the Trojans.
The Hoosiers converted seven of their 13 third-down opportunities, a significant improvement from their 2-of-13 performance against Minnesota.
Defensively, Indiana limited USC to just two conversions on 11 third-down attempts, consistently forcing the Trojans off the field.
“We have really struggled on third down the last couple of weeks,” Cignetti said. “A lot of missed opportunities. We cashed in on a lot of those opportunities tonight.”
The improvement coincided with a more aggressive approach from offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, who emphasized attacking USC’s defense rather than playing conservatively.
Still, penalties and missed opportunities remain concerns, particularly after several pre-snap mistakes disrupted promising Indiana possessions.
Indiana continues demonstrating its ability to win close games
Indiana’s path through the 2026 season has looked considerably different from its dominant campaigns in 2024 and 2025.
Rather than routinely overwhelming opponents, the Hoosiers have increasingly found themselves in games decided by a handful of possessions.
Saturday was another example.
After USC tied the game at 13 in the third quarter, Indiana responded with 14 unanswered points, relying on its defense and timely offensive execution to pull away.
“We’ve had a lot of close games this year, but we always find a way,” Cignetti said. “I think it’s the mark of a team that’s got a lot of grit, competitive excellence, and can play when the game is on the line.”
The Hoosiers have navigated quarterback uncertainty, injuries, and offensive inconsistencies while remaining firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation.
With matchups against Washington and Purdue remaining, Indiana has a chance to strengthen its postseason résumé and keep proving it can deliver when games are on the line.
