Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza triumphs in his debut, securing a 27-14 victory over Old Dominion, positioning Indiana at No. 20 in the rankings.

In a closely contested match, Indiana secured a hard-fought victory over Old Dominion, marking their ninth consecutive home win. The game, which was the first for Hoosier the Bison since its debut was announced this summer, saw a thrilling performance from both teams.

The Monarchs, led by quarterback Colton Joseph, started the game with a bang, scoring a 75-yard touchdown run on their opening drive. Joseph, who had a career-high 179 yards rushing on 10 carries, also went 11 of 22 through the air for 96 yards and three interceptions.

Indiana responded in the second quarter when Fernando Mendoza, making his debut as the team's quarterback, scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run. Mendoza finished the game completing 18 of 31 passes for 193 yards and running for 34 yards.

The game remained tight until the fourth quarter when Indiana began to pull away. Indiana's 309-yard rushing attack was led by Roman Hemby with 110 yards and Kaelon Black with 92 yards and a touchdown. Jonathan Brady also returned a punt 91 yards for a score, contributing to Indiana's points.

However, Indiana's offensive prowess was somewhat overshadowed by their inefficiency inside the Old Dominion 10-yard line. Indiana scored just 20 points on six trips inside the Monarchs' red zone, turning it over on downs twice.

Old Dominion's Joseph added a 78-yard TD run midway through the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to prevent Indiana from securing the victory.

Looking ahead, Indiana will host Kennesaw State next Saturday, while Old Dominion will face North Carolina Central next Saturday in its home opener.

The eligibility status of Louis Moore, a player with a future contract with Indiana, remains unclear due to an ongoing case with the NCAA. Moore, who had an interception and a team-leading seven tackles in his first game with Indiana, is currently suspended due to a two-week stay granted by a Texas judge against a preliminary entry ban. The next hearing is expected on September 10.

The mascot Hoosier the Bison made its long-awaited return to the field in this game, last seen in 1969.

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Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza triumphs in his debut, securing a 27-14 victory over Old Dominion, positioning Indiana at No. 20 in the rankings.