Indiana football: Three key moments from the Week 1 win vs. Illinois

#1. Connor Bazelak leads the Hoosiers’ game-winning TD drive with two minutes remaining

With two minutes and 16 seconds remaining in the ball game, Illinois took a 20-16 lead over Indiana football and left Walt Bell, Connor Bazelak, and company a chance to lead a game-winning touchdown drive to win the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten game in over 600 days.

From the 25-yard line, Bazelak had been targeting Cam Camper and D.J. Matthews Jr. all game, and Shaun Shivers had barely any impact on the game, so with limited time, the threat of a run didn’t play a factor at all. Bazelak looked for Matthews Jr. on the first four throws of the drive, which resulted with Indiana on their own 46-yard line with 1:44 remaining.

With the clock running, Bazelak finds Camper for a 17-yard completion then locates Matthews Jr. for a 14-yard completion. Bazelak to Camper. Bazelak to Matthews Jr. The Hoosiers were moving. With Indiana at the five-yard line, Bazelak drops back to pass then decides to keep it and rams forward to the one-yard line. 35 seconds remaining, clock’s ticking, and Shaun Shivers demanded the ball. Every bit of his 5-foot-7 186-pound frame punches through the line and gives Indiana football a 22-20 lead with 23 seconds remaining. Essentially, GAME OVER.

The Hoosiers offense really showed its grit and Bazelak showed his composure and experience, which Indiana has been missing from their lead man. Tom Allen and Indiana football now brings all of this momentum and excitement from starting the season undefeated to Week 2 and things are looking up.