Indiana

Tale of the Tape: Indiana offense vs. Penn State defense

Published

6 months ago

November 6, 2025

Tale of the Tape: Indiana offense vs. Penn State defense

Curt Cignetti completely reloaded the offense to make it even better in his second season at Indiana. With Fernando Mendoza at the helm, Indiana is flourishing not only in the passing game but also in the running game. Penn State has struggled on defense, and was gashed by one of the best offenses last week in Ohio State.

Facing another top offense in the country, the Nittany Lions will have their hands full facing some high-end talent at all aspects of the Indiana offense.

Can Penn State’s defense slow down the best offense in the country or will Indiana continue to run through teams?

All rankings and stats are from CFBStats.com

Passing yards per game

Indiana offense: 259.2 ypg (33rd in nation)
Penn State defense: 166.4 ypg (16th)

Mendoza is one of the favorites for the Heisman trophy. Just because the numbers aren’t quite there, doesn’t mean it’s bad. Mendoza is doing exactly what he needs to, making every throw in the book. In his last two games, his passing numbers have gone down, but the Hoosiers haven’t needed him. Against a top pass defense on paper, Mendoza will rely on his receivers, who could open the game up like Ohio State’s did last season.

A.J. Harris and Zakee Wheatley will have to step up to limit receivers like Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. If Mendoza finds them early, it could be game over before halftime.

Passing yards per attempt

Indiana offense: 9.4 ypa (8th)
Penn State defense: 6.4 ypa (32nd)

Similar numbers to the per-game numbers at passing. Indiana gets almost a first down every single pass attempt on average. Mendoza relies on Cooper and Sarratt, who both have made plays. Penn State’s secondary has shown to struggle against better receivers and could struggle again against the Indiana duo.

The top three receivers all average over 10 yards per catch and the big play ability is something that is heavily in Indiana’s playbook. Similar game plans could be implemented as it was against Ohio State, despite the lack of stopping the big play.

Rushing yards per game

Indiana offense: 245.67 ypg (6th)
Penn State defense: 159.38 ypg (90th)

Indiana has one of the best running games in the country. Mix that with Penn State’s struggling rush defense and it’s potential disaster for the blue and white. The running game has to be limited if the Nittany Lions want any chance in the game. However, the Hoosiers could continue to ride the running game and roll to a victory fairly easily.

Zane Durant and Dani Dennis-Sutton are two names on Penn State’s defensive line that need to step up. For Indiana, Kaelon Black leads the way with 619 yards. However, the team utilizes a committee style with the top three rushers having four or more touchdowns.

Rushing yards per attempt

Indiana offense: 5.74 ypa (10th)
Penn State defense: 4.18 ypa (77th)

Black and Khobie Martin are both averaging over six yards per rush. Based on prior matchups, they are in for a monster day, making it easier for Mendoza and the pass game. Black’s 6.4 ypa with a long of 40 yards will give issues for Penn State. Martin one-ups him with 7.2 ypa, both holding the capability of a big run.

Amare Campbell will need to continue to step up in the absence of Tony Rojas. If another linebacker emerges the running game could be limited. However, Penn State hasn’t shown anyone in that position that can step up, which could show what is to come against the Hoosiers.

Points per game

Indiana offense: 46.4 ppg (1st)
Penn State defense: 21.8 ppg (41st)

If the game goes off the stats, Indiana will score around 35 points. However, that number could absolutely be higher as Ohio State put up 38 points and had most of them with plenty of time to spare. Indiana can score quick or it can take its time to get down the field. No matter what, it’s successful as Cignetti just continues to win at a program that had little success.

Penn State will need to do whatever it can to keep the ball away from this high-powered offense. If it limits possessions, the Nittany Lions could have a chance, but the offense has had so much success that it may not even matter.

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Indiana

Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured

Published

4 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.

According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.

Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.

Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.

Police did not provide any additional information.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.

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Indiana

Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick

Published

16 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick

The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.

All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.

Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers .

Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.

“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”

The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.

Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.

Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.

“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”

Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”

There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.

Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.

The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.

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Indiana

Why Caitlin Clark went back to Indiana Fever locker room in season opener

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Why Caitlin Clark went back to Indiana Fever locker room in season opener

INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark has some new strategies to help keep her loose throughout games, and one garnered a lot of attention in the Indiana Fever’s season opener against the Dallas Wings.

Saturday was Clark’s first regular season WNBA game since July 2025, when she suffered a right groin injury against the Connecticut Sun. She was limited to just 13 games last season because of various injuries that compounded and lingered throughout the season, including to her left groin, right groin, left quad, and ankle.

Clark, who finished with 20 points, five rebounds and seven assists in 30 minutes, went back to the Fever’s tunnel twice throughout the 107-104 loss, and she said postgame it was just to get her back readjusted. It’s something new for the Fever star after she missed most of last season because of various injuries, but she didn’t report any major issues with her back.

“It gets out of line pretty quickly,” Clark said. “It’s just that, getting my back put back in place a little bit, but other than that, I feel great.”

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Clark also started wearing a heat therapy pad on her back as well when she’s on the bench, but that doesn’t automatically mean an injury, either. Former Fever player Natasha Howard wore one while sitting on the bench the entire 2025 season, and she did not miss a game.

These back issues, Fever coach Stephanie White said, shouldn’t keep her out of the game.

“We wouldn’t have played her 30 minutes if she wasn’t OK,” White said.

Clark’s response postgame came after ABC’s commentators reported in-game that trainers were working on Clark’s hip flexor and groin area — the same that kept her out of most of the 2025 season. When asked about ABC’s in-game report, White said: “That would be the first time I’ve heard that.”

Fever communications staff added that they did not provide an official update to ABC on why Clark left for the tunnel, so everything reported on the broadcast in-game was speculation.

“I think it’s just part of maintaining the body,” White added of the tunnel trips. “… I mean, look, when we’re all really young, we don’t learn proper mechanics, and then it doesn’t get exposed until something happens, and we’re trying to get her body mechanically the way it needs to go. This is gonna be an ongoing thing, and not just her. We’ve had multiple players who have gone back, and we don’t have a blue tent, right, but they’re gonna go back and get it adjusted and make sure that the body’s working.”

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.

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