Indiana pulled off its first-ever victory at Penn State on Saturday, with second-ranked Hoosiers defeating the Nittany Lions 27-24 in Happy Valley.
The program had never beaten Penn State at Beaver Stadium before head coach Curt Cignetti led his team to the historic win.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered the deciding blow with a touchdown pass to Omar Cooper Jr. in the final minute. The score kept Indiana’s undefeated season alive.
The Hoosiers improved to 10-0 and sent a clear message about their playoff credentials in a loaded Big Ten conference.
Jenny Taft: “Indiana has never won here”
Curt Cignetti: “This team has never played here”
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) November 8, 2025
When FOX Sports’ Jenny Taft mentioned Indiana’s winless history at Penn State, Cignetti had a quick response.
“This team has never played here.”
The comment reflects how completely Cignetti has transformed the program in Bloomington. Indiana traditionally finished in the middle of the Big Ten standings before his arrival.
Now the Hoosiers are on track to face top-ranked Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. That potential matchup would determine the conference’s top seed in the College Football Playoff.
Both teams still have work to do reach Indianapolis.
Indiana faces Wisconsin and rival Purdue to close the regular season. The Buckeyes must get past UCLA, Rutgers and “The Game” against Michigan in Ann Arbor.
