IU beats Purdue, clinches spot in Big Ten Championship Game

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind (WISH) — IU cruised to the win against Purdue, winning 56-3, to keep the Old Oaken Bucket and clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

This is the second year in a row that IU has beaten Purdue.

“There’s a lot of celebrating going on in that locker room right now,” IU head coach Curt Cignetti said. “There’s a lot of cigars being smoked. They’re having a good old time. But, they also understand that they get to enjoy it for 24 hours.”

IU rushed for 355 yards in the victory, with Roman Hemby leading the way with 152 yards. Kaelon Black led the Hoosiers with two touchdowns.

Fernando Mendoza was 8-for-15 passing for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and also added 27 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The win capped off an undefeated regular season for the Hoosiers, the first time in program history they have been 12-0.

“It’s a great night for Indiana, for our fanbase, our alums, our loyal supporters, everybody that cares about Indiana, this is something that a lot of people probably thought couldn’t happen,” Cignetti said. “It just goes to show you, when you have a commitment and a plan, you have the right things in place, anything is possible.”

“Everyone knew that we could go 12-0,” Mendoza said. “No one was blind to it. One more game, perfect regular season, something that nobody in Indiana history has done.”

As for Purdue, it’s end of the first year of the Barry Odom era. Purdue did not win a Big Ten game for the second straight year, but Odom is focused and committed to the future.

“We’ll get this flipped into a winning program and I feel such a deep responsibility to it, not only for our players, but for the people of Purdue, because Ross-Ade is an elite place and I can feel it on what it’s going to be and how we’re going to continue to build this,” Odom said.

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