The No. 22 ranked Indiana Hoosiers (2-0) host the FCS Indiana State Sycamores (2-0)
The last time the two teams faced each other was in 2023, when Indiana defeated Indiana State, 41-7.
Indiana enters the game with back to back wins against Old Dominion (27-14) and Kennesaw State (56-9). The Hoosiers have rushed for more than 300 yards in both matchups, while junior quarterback Fernando Mendoza has passed for 438 passing yards on 36 completions out of 56 attempts, 4 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.
Indiana's defense has been great only allowing two touchdowns in two games. They need to tighten up the rush defense but this is the perfect time to "get right" before the take on Illinois in two Saturday's.
The Indiana State Sycamores are 2-0 on the season. The FCS playoff contender has wins over McKendree (41-24) and Eastern Illinois (38-14). Redshirt sophomore quarterback Elijah Owens has thrown for 317 yards and three touchdowns in two games. Owens has also rushed for 112 yards.
Owens suffered a collarbone injury late in the win over Eastern Illinois and he will miss the game but Keegan Patterson who replaced Owens last week will likely start on Friday. Patterson threw for 111 yards with two touchdowns and running for 78. Patterson is a redshirt junior that joined the program after spending a season at USC (2022) and then playing nine games for Northwest Mississippi Community College in 2023 and appearing in two games last season for Indiana State.
Running back Plez Lawrence leads the Sycamores with 143 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns. Lawrence has also caught 5 passes for 112 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
"It's great to be 2-0," Indiana State coach Curt Mallory said. "That's something to really be proud of. I thought the team came out, made a lot of improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. It was a very physical game."
Indiana State is led by redshirt senior Logan Wilson a edge rusher who recorded nine tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks last week against Eastern Illinois per GoSycamoresSports The Western Michigan transfer is in his first season at ISU, he will be helped by redshirt junior defensive back Tyree Rochell and redshirt freshman defensive lineman Tysen Smith, both from Bloomington South HS.
How to Watch Indiana vs. Indiana State: When: Friday, September 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. ET Location: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN) in Bloomington, Indiana TV: Big Ten Network or Live Stream: Watch this game on FuboTV
(per FanDuel)
Spread favorite: Hoosiers (-45.5)
Total: 58.5 points
Indiana Hoosiers Injury Status:
Bryson Bonds (knee) out for the season, Byron Baldwin Jr (knee) day-to-day, Mitch McCarthy (unknown injury) day-to-day
Indiana State Injury Status:
Indiana State quarterback Elijah Owens (collarbone, out for game)
Series all-time history
Indiana and Indiana State will play each other for the eight time and Indiana leads the series 7-0.
Prediction: Indiana wins and wins by a lot, no need to sell you on why Indiana will win big, IU 56, ISU 10. Expect the Hoosiers to run for over 300 yards again and Mendoza to go for three or four touchdowns with no turnovers early.
Indiana football 2025 schedule
Here is the full Hoosiers schedule.
- Game 1: Indiana 27, Old Dominion 14
- Game 2: Indiana 56, Kennesaw State 9
- Game 3: Indiana vs Indiana State, 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12
- Game 4: Indiana vs Illinois, TBA Sept. 20
- Game 5: Indiana at Iowa, noon/3:30/4 p.m. Sept. 27
- Game 6: Indiana at Oregon, TBA Oct. 11
- Game 7: Indiana vs Michigan State, TBA Oct. 18
- Game 8: Indiana vs UCLA, TBA Oct. 25
- Game 9: at Maryland, TBA Nov. 1
- Game 10: Indiana at Penn State, TBA Nov. 8
- Game 11: Indiana vs Wisconsin, TBA Nov. 15
- Game 12: Indiana at Purdue, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28