The Hoosiers were held scoreless in the first quarter, but Indiana found its rhythm after that and cruised to a 38-0 victory behind a balance offensive attack and a dominant defensive performance.
Indiana's offense took a little while to get going Saturday afternoon, but once the Hoosiers found their rhythm, Western Kentucky had no answer.
After a scoreless first quarter, Indiana scored 14 points in the second quarter before adding 17 more in the third and another seven in the fourth to cruise to a 38-0 shutout victory.
The Hoosiers finished with 518 total yards, including 280 through the air and 233 on the ground, while holding Western Kentucky to just 186 total yards.
Quarterback Josh Hoover led the way through the air, completing 18 of 24 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 75% of his attempts and consistently moved the offense once Indiana settled into the game.
Indiana's rushing attack was just as effective.
Turbo Richard carried the ball 15 times for 149 yards and a touchdown, averaging an impressive 9.9 yards per carry. His 31-yard run was the longest rush of the day and helped provide Indiana with a big-play element on the ground.
Lee Beebe Jr. also contributed, finishing with 50 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.
The Hoosiers' passing game featured a standout performance from Charlie Becker, who hauled in five passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. His 79-yard reception was the longest play of the game and helped Indiana continue building its lead.
Nick Marsh added seven catches for 81 yards, giving Hoover another reliable target.
While Indiana's offense eventually exploded, the defense was the biggest reason Western Kentucky never had a chance to get back into the game.
The Hilltoppers managed only 186 total yards, with just 120 passing yards and 66 rushing yards. Western Kentucky converted only four of 15 third downs and went 0-for-3 on fourth down.
Indiana also forced Western Kentucky into a difficult afternoon offensively, holding the Hilltoppers scoreless in all four quarters.
The Hoosiers recorded seven tackles for loss and a sack while limiting Western Kentucky to just 3.0 yards per play.
Perhaps most importantly, Indiana never turned the ball over, while Western Kentucky gave it away three times.
It wasn't the fastest start for the Hoosiers, but the response was emphatic.
After being held scoreless for the opening 15 minutes, Indiana scored 38 unanswered points and completely controlled the game from there. The Hoosiers improved to 3-0 with another convincing performance, showing that even when the offense takes some time to get going, the defense can keep the team in control.
