Indiana football survived a major scare from Northwestern football on Friday night, holding on for a 29-23 victory at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The result moved the Hoosiers to 4-0 and extended their winning streak to 20 games.
The northwestern vs indiana matchup looked one-sided early, but the Wildcats fought back in the second half behind quarterback Aidan Chiles. Northwestern eventually turned a 12-0 halftime deficit into a one-score game before Indiana made enough plays late to secure the win.
Indiana vs Northwestern score
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
| Indiana | 2 | 10 | 3 | 14 | 29 |
The indiana score was 29, while Northwestern finished with 23 points. The iu score remained within reach for Northwestern throughout much of the fourth quarter, but Indiana ultimately closed out the game.
Lee Beebe Jr. leads Indiana football
One of the biggest stories from indiana football was the performance of Lee Beebe Jr. The running back entered the season as Indiana’s third-string option, but injuries to Khobie Martin and Turbo Richard created an opportunity.
Beebe Jr. delivered in a major way against Northwestern, rushing 24 times for 203 yards and one touchdown. His rushing total was the most by an Indiana running back since 2018.
His 4-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave Indiana a 22-13 advantage, while a 70-yard run later in the quarter helped set up another crucial Hoosiers touchdown.
Aidan Chiles keeps Northwestern alive
Aidan Chiles was instrumental in Northwestern’s second-half comeback. After a difficult opening half, the quarterback found his rhythm and finished 22-of-29 passing for 293 yards and two touchdown passes, while also rushing for a touchdown.
Chiles connected with Griffin Wilde for two touchdowns, including an 8-yard score that brought Northwestern within 15-13 late in the fourth quarter.
Chiles then added a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 5:10 remaining, cutting Indiana’s lead to 22-20.
Despite the comeback, Northwestern could not complete the upset.
Northwestern Wildcats football falls just short
The northwestern football offense produced 325 total yards and showed significant improvement after halftime. Wilde finished with six receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns, while Luke Dehnicke recorded seven catches for 140 yards.
The northwestern wildcats football defense also made several important plays, including a goal-line stand during Indiana’s opening drive and a sack of Josh Hoover in the third quarter.
However, a few costly mistakes prevented the Wildcats from completing the comeback.
Josh Hoover and Indiana’s passing game
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover completed 19 of 29 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was uneven at times, particularly early in the contest, but he made an important contribution with his legs.
Hoover scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter after Beebe Jr.’s 70-yard run put the Hoosiers in position to extend their lead to 29-20.
Hoover also connected with Nick Marsh for an 8-yard touchdown in the second quarter, giving Indiana a 12-0 advantage.
Charlie Becker was another important downfield target for Indiana, although the Hoosiers missed an opportunity to connect with him on a potential early touchdown.
Northwestern vs Indiana match player stats
Key northwestern wildcats football vs indiana hoosiers football match player stats included:
- Aidan Chiles, Northwestern: 22-of-29 passing, 293 yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
- Griffin Wilde, Northwestern: 6 receptions, 56 yards, 2 TDs
- Luke Dehnicke, Northwestern: 7 receptions, 140 yards
- Josh Hoover, Indiana: 19-of-29 passing, 201 yards, 2 TDs
- Lee Beebe Jr., Indiana: 24 carries, 203 rushing yards, 1 TD
- Nick Marsh, Indiana: TD reception
- Nico Radicic, Indiana: Field goals of 43 and 22 yards
These performances shaped the iu vs northwestern football contest and explain why the game remained competitive deep into the fourth quarter.
Turbo Richard injury impacts IU game
Indiana suffered a significant injury when running back Turbo Richard left the game after appearing to hurt his right foot in the first half.
His departure forced the Hoosiers to rely heavily on Beebe Jr., who responded with the biggest rushing performance of his Indiana career.
The injury could become an important storyline for the iu game going forward, particularly with Indiana’s running-back depth already affected by earlier injuries.
Indiana extends 20-game winning streak
The victory pushed the indiana hoosiers football winning streak to 20 consecutive games. Indiana has not lost since falling to Notre Dame in the first round of the 2024 College Football Playoff.
The Hoosiers went 16-0 during their 2025 national championship campaign and entered the indiana vs northwestern matchup looking to maintain that remarkable run.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti also praised Northwestern after the game, calling the Wildcats a good football team following their strong second-half performance.
What is next for Northwestern football?
The northwestern football schedule now moves to another major Big Ten matchup. Northwestern is scheduled to open play at the new Ryan Field on Friday, Oct. 2, against Penn State.
For David Braun, the Northwestern head football coach, the narrow loss provides both positives and areas to address. The Wildcats demonstrated that they could compete with a nationally ranked Indiana team on the road, but costly mistakes ultimately proved decisive.
The northwestern university football program will now look to build on its 2-1 start.
Indiana vs Northwestern takeaway
The indiana vs northwestern football game became much closer than the early score suggested. Indiana controlled the first half, but Northwestern’s offense found another gear after halftime.
Beebe Jr.’s breakout performance, Hoover’s late rushing touchdown and Indiana’s ability to make key plays in the final minutes allowed the Hoosiers to escape with a 29-23 victory.
For IU football, the most important number is now 20: Indiana has won 20 straight games. For Northwestern, the narrow defeat showed the Wildcats can challenge a highly ranked Big Ten opponent, even though they ultimately fell short.
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