Indiana trounces Maryland: No. 2 Hoosiers move to 9-0 on the season behind punishing run game

Curt Cignetti is 22 games into his tenure as Indiana's football coach, and he already has the two best seasons in Indiana history. It's a major credit to Cignetti and what Indiana has built in short order. The Hoosiers look like a playoff lock and will likely be playing in the Big Ten championship in December. For a program that was historically a bottom-dweller, what Cignetti has done in Bloomington is remarkable. 

One stat that helps sum it up: This is Cignetti's fifth 50-plus scoring output in less than two seasons in the Big Ten. 

With a blowout loss to Indiana, Maryland's ignominious streak against ranked conference opponents continued. The Terrapins have now lost their last 43 games against ranked conference teams, dating back to 2011 when they were still in the ACC. There have been close calls along the way, but it is still remarkable Maryland hasn't won one. The next chance will come in a few weeks against No. 21 Michigan. 

Coming into the game, a young Maryland team actually had the nation's best turnover margin. It was something Maryland coach Mike Locksley was very proud about and believed showed how well his team was playing despite losing its last three games.

Unfortunately, those days of holding the No. 1 margin are over after a -4 day, primarily because of quarterback Malik Washington's four turnovers. Washington is wise beyond his years, but there are going to be some hiccups with a freshman quarterback and that was certainly the case against the Hoosiers. Maryland's lone forced turnover came on the first drive on a Fernando Mendoza interception. Indiana secured its fifth turnover late in the fourth quarter. 

Final: Indiana 55, Maryland 10

On its first offensive drive, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza made a rare mistake and threw an interception that Maryland almost returned for a touchdown.

Were the No. 2 Hoosiers on upset alert in College Park? Not quite. 

From there it was all Indiana as the Hoosiers dominated Maryland, 55-10, to keep its perfect undefeated season alive. Fernando Mendoza finished with two touchdowns (1 passing, 1 rushing) and 201 passing yards. His little brother, Alberto Mendoza, added his own passing touchdown in relief of the Heisman Trophy contender in the fourth quarter. 

The Hoosiers dominated through the ground, totaling more than 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Roman Hemby, who transferred to Indiana from Maryland this offseason, had 88 yards and a touchdown against his former team. Kaelon Black (110 yds, 1 TD) and Khobie Martin (81 yds) had big days, too.

It was a much different story for the Terrapins. Maryland could never get anything going through its running game, putting a lot of pressure on quarterback Malik Washington, and finished with only 37 yards on 17 carries. Washington, the freshman QB, had a rough day throwing two interceptions and losing two fumbles. 

All that now stands between the Hoosiers and a perfect regular season is: at Penn State, Wisconsin and at Purdue. 

Maryland, losers of their last four games after a 4-0 start, travel to Rutgers next weekend. 

Fourth quarter: Indiana 48, Maryland 10

With the Hoosiers cruising, Curt Cignetti made a quarterback switch. What makes it so unique: Fernando Mendoza came out and Alberto Mendoza, his younger brother, came in. Alberto Mendoza is actually a big reason why Fernando decided to transfer from Cal to Indiana this season. Alberto even added a touchdown in relief of his older brother who finished with two touchdowns. 

Third quarter: Indiana 41, Maryland 10

Yeah this one's done. Roman Hemby adds the exclamation point after his former team on a 16-yard touchdown run. Back-to-back Maryland fumbles set up easy Indiana drives and that's that. Maryland's losing streak will extend to four games. 

Third quarter: Indiana 34, Maryland 10

This one might be over after Malik Washington is stripped for a fumble that Indiana's Devan Boykin returned 32 yard for a touchdown. In less than a minute of game time, a 20-10 Maryland lead has exploded into a 34-10 one that feels all but impossible for the Terps to surmount. 

Third quarter: Indiana 27, Maryland 10

Indiana didn't wait long to respond to Maryland's first touchdown. It took all of six plays, five of which were runs, for Indiana to go back up 17 points. Kaelon Black capitalized on Indiana's offensive line manhandling Maryland and dashed for a 31-yard touchdown run that looked way too easy. Indiana can beat you through the air or the ground behind one of the nation's best o-lines.

Third quarter: Indiana 20, Maryland 10

Maryland finally gets the big offensive play they badly needed. Malik Washington went aggressive again and this time it paid off with a 55-yard touchdown to DeJuan Williams. It was a risky off-balance throw from Washington and if it led to another interception, it would have been disastrous. Instead, Williams racing 40 yards past multiple Indiana defenders gives Maryland a big spark. 

Halftime: No. 2 Indiana 20, Maryland 3

The Hoosiers are in full control on the road, taking a 20-3 lead into halftime inside SECU Stadium. 

Indiana started off slow as Fernando Mendoza threw an interception on the Hoosiers' first offensive drive that gave Maryland an immediate red-zone opportunity. The Terrapins could only manage a field goal, though, and from there it was all Hoosiers. 

Mendoza scored on the ground first with a 7-yard touchdown run that went untouched. The Indiana QB then added a 22-yard touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. The Heisman Trophy contender finished the first half 10 of 17 for 159 passing yards, one passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown and an INT. 

One area of concern for Indiana: star receiver Elijah Sarratt got banged up early in the first quarter and didn't return the rest of the half. He entered the game as Indiana's leading receiver with 45 catches for 609 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Maryland's star freshman quarterback Malik Washington had a tough first half, throwing for two interceptions and only completing 6 of 13 passes. The run game was even worse as the Terps had only two rushing yards on five carries. Maryland clearly missed former running back Roman Hemby, now with the Hoosiers who had 53 rushing yards in the first half. 

Maryland will get the ball to start in the second half. 

Second quarter: Indiana 17, Maryland 3

Indiana's offense now looks unstoppable against Maryland's defense. Fernando Mendoza found Omar Cooper for a wide open 22-yard touchdown to put the Hoosiers up two scores. With Maryland's offense sputtering, this one has a chance to get ugly if Indiana keeps rolling like this. Mendoza is now 8 for 11 for 135 yards, one passing TD, one rushing TD and one interception. 

Second quarter: Indiana 10, Maryland 3

Maryland's talented young quarterback Malik Washington is struggling early against the No. 2 Hoosiers. Washington just threw his second interception of the first half on a pass that floated way too long on what could have been a big gain if he hit Kaleb Webb in stride. With a non-existent run game (3 yards on 3 carries), Maryland is going to have to keep throwing the ball but Washington has to either be smarter with his decisions or better with his passes if he's going to take risks.  

Second quarter: Indiana 10, Maryland

Facing a 4th-and-1 from Maryland's 2-yard line, Curt Cignetti, somewhat surprisingly, opted for a 20-yard field goal to go up 10-3 rather than be aggressive. The successful field goal was set up following a Malik Washington interception that gave the Hoosiers the ball. Fernando Mendoza hit Charlie Becker for a 52-yard reception to get into the redzone. 

Indiana is starting to move the ball well offensively. Important drive for Maryland coming up given the early offensive struggles. 

End of first quarter: Indiana 7, Maryland 3

The Terps are driving but still find themselves down, 7-3, headed into the second quarter. Maryland forced an interception and has gotten pressure, but it'll still be challenging to slow down Indiana's high-powered offense.

Despite the interception, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza had 38 passing yards, 17 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead the way. 

First quarter: Indiana 7, Maryland 3

A great play call from Indiana on a QB draw has Fernando Mendoza run in untouched into the end zone to put the Hoosiers up 7-3. It capped an efficient 13-play, 93-yard drive that ate up 6:42 of game clock. It was a nice mix of Mendoza passes (he hit Omar Cooper for 22 and 18 yard catches) and runs with Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black. 

Maryland has had some success pressuring Mendoza but his legs are dangerous as the Terps learned the hard way that drive. 

First quarter: Maryland 3, Indiana 0

Maryland gets on the board first with a 24-yard field goal. It's a bit of a missed opportunity for the Terps after an interception return put the ball on Indiana's 12-yard line. When you're a 21.5-point underdog, you'd love to come away with a touchdown there. The offense couldn't do much with the good field position, but points are points and Maryland has the early edge at home. 

First quarter: Maryland 0, Indiana 0 

Fernando Mendoza had only thrown three interceptions coming into the game, but he just made a costly one. Maryland DB Jamare Glasker jumped the route and returns the ball to Indiana's 12-yard line. A big early opportunity for the Terps to get some points on No. 2 Indiana. 

The Big Ten published the final availability report for Indiana-Maryland today.

INDIANA

OUT: K Brendan Franke, LG Drew Evans, DE Kellen Wyatt, RB Lee Beebe, DB Bryson Bonds

QUESTIONABLE: LB Aiden Fisher

MARYLAND

OUT: QB Justyn Martin, WR Ryan Manning, DB Lloyd Irvin, OL Jaylen Gilchrist, RB Bud Coombs, LB DJ Samuels, DB Judah Jenkins, LB Keyari James, OL Michael McMonigle

QUESTIONABLE: DL Zahir Mathis

Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza has the second-best Heisman Trophy odds (+220), according to FanDuel, an hour ahead of kickoff inside SECU Stadium in College Park. Mendoza, who started his college career at Cal, has been terrific in his first season in Bloomington. Mendoza's stats are spectacular -- 1,923 yards, 24 touchdowns and only three interceptions to guide the Hoosiers to an undefeated 8-0 record. 

Only Ohio State redshirt freshman QB Julian Sayin (+185) currently ranks above Mendoza in the odds.