The October sports calendar calls for plenty of Indiana Hoosier action wherever you look. With so much going on in the world of Hoosier athletics, we have you covered. Here's a look at the biggest stories in IU sports from this past weekend.
Fernando Mendoza makes NFL debut against Patriots
Fernando Mendoza got his first taste of NFL regular season action in Week 5 against the Patriots. The Raiders were trailing by a significant margin in the 4th quarter, so head coach Klint Kubiak decided to give the Heisman Trophy winner some reps. Mendoza completed six of his eight pass attempts for 48 yards, while also rushing once for three years.
The numbers don't jump off the page, as he saw limited action in garbage time. However, Mendoza looked poised and comfortable leading the Raiders offense. Las Vegas ran 10 plays and collected 54 yards on its lone drive with Mendoza leading the way. Here is a look at that drive:
Fernando Mendoza, smooth operator 👀
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) October 11, 2026
Solid debut for the No. 1 pick: 6/8 for 48 yards plus 3 rush yards in a single drive. Spread it around and showed mobility.
Looks as advertised, albeit in garbage time. pic.twitter.com/4E4kIghIUE
Men's basketball beats Butler in first exhibition game
The Indiana men's basketball team had its first exhibition game of the 2026-27 season on Sunday night. The Hoosiers traveled north to Indianapolis to take on Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Indiana claimed a 96-68 victory. The Cream and Crimson took a 44-41 lead into the half, but then dominated the final 20 minutes by out-scoring the Bulldogs 52-27. The Hoosiers went on a 33-4 run at one point, and cruised to a lopsided win.
Indiana out-rebounded Butler 53-33, and went 13-for-33 (39.4%) from beyond the arc. Darren Harris, Markus Burton, and Samet Yigitoglu led the way with 13 points apiece. Indiana's next exhibition game is slated for this coming Sunday, Oct. 18 against North Carolina at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. There were plenty of encouraging signs on Sunday against Butler, but this weekend's meeting with the Tar Heels will provide a much better litmus test of where the Hoosiers stand heading into Year 2 of the Darian DeVries era.
Football preparing for Top-5 matchup vs Ohio State
The Hoosier football team extended its winning streak to 22 games with a come-from-behind 20-17 victory over Nebraska this past weekend. The Hoosiers trailed for most of the game but were able to make the key plays when it mattered most. Indiana is now 6-0 and ranked as the No. 5 team in the country.
Next up is a highly-anticipated showdown with the Ohio State Buckeyes this coming Saturday in Bloomington. Ohio State is 5-1 and ranked as the No. 4 team in the country via the latest AP Top-25 Poll. The Hoosiers and Buckeyes have built up quite the rivalry over the past two seasons, and with plenty of Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications on the line, this matchup is must-watch TV for all Hoosier fans. Kick-off is slated for Noon ET on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Men's soccer ends non-conference slate undefeated
The IU men's soccer team celebrated Senior Night this past Friday with a 7-0 win over Hanover College. The Hoosiers moved to 11-0-2 on the season, and completed the non-conference slate with an undefeated record for the second consecutive season. Indiana has gone 14-0-2 in non-conference play during that span. Indiana returns to Big Ten play with a road matchup at Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 16. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
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