Defending champion Indiana defeated Northwestern 29-23 on Friday night to open the 2026 Big Ten season, a victory that head coach Curt Cignetti described as the result of being "Pearl Harbored" during the opening offensive plays.
The Hoosiers entered the contest as heavy favorites, but the game began with a slow offensive start that saw Indiana lead by only 2-0 for much of the first quarter. Following two false starts and a turnover on downs at the goal line, Cignetti characterized the early sequence as a significant setback.
"We got Pearl Harbored the first two offensive plays," Cignetti said.
Despite the early struggles, Indiana maintained leads of 5-0 and 12-0 before Northwestern narrowed the gap to 12-7. The game remained competitive through the second half, with Northwestern cutting the deficit to 22-20 midway through the fourth quarter. Indiana held on to secure the final margin of 29-23.
The result extends a strong run for Cignetti, who took over at Indiana and led the program to a national title in his first season. The coach has maintained a high profile since arriving at the school, previously instructing reporters to "Google me" at the start of his tenure.
While the Hoosiers have navigated the early part of the season with relative ease, the schedule becomes more difficult in October. Michigan and Ohio State are set to visit Bloomington later in the month, marking a significant increase in competition for the defending champions.