Indiana football: Reaction from the Hoosiers win vs. Illinois

The morning after an Indiana football game-winning drive on a Friday night against a Big Ten rival is exactly what the doctor ordered to start the 2022 campaign for Tom Allen and the Hoosiers. Indiana trailed the Illini 20-16 with a little over two minutes remaining in the game when new starting quarterback, Connor Bazelak, and new offensive coordinator, Walt Bell, orchestrated a 75-yard game-winning drive that was capped off by a Shaun Shivers 1-yard touchdown run.

Indiana football. Undefeated. 1-0. First Big Ten win in 636 days. What a feeling waking up on a Saturday morning.

There were many moments in the game where most of Hoosier Nation, myself included, was anticipating the same cycle we saw last season. Excitement, Hope, Disappointment. 2022 is different than 2021. The Hoosiers defense showed its true self with consecutive stops against the Illini to keep Indiana football close in this game, despite Illinois’ offense finishing with 448 total yards and dominating the time of possession.

The MVP of the entire game was, no question, Cam Jones, the leader of the defensive unit for IU. He finished the first half with eight tackles and a sack and was basically all over the field making plays and making an impact. Jones went down in the third quarter with an apparent lower leg injury, but the leadership and toughness showed as he limped around the field making plays for the Hoosiers in the fourth quarter. Jones finished the game with 12 total tackles, which was a game-high, along with a sack and a fumble recovery.

Jones was not the only standout of the game. On the offensive side of the ball, Connor Bazelak, Cam Camper, and D.J. Matthews Jr. all had huge games and were key contributors on the 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive.

More to come with highlights of key players and takeaways from Week 1, but what a start to the 2022 season for Indiana football.

Next task: Beat Idaho.