Both programs enter Friday night’s clash at Memorial Stadium carrying perfect 2-0 records, but history weighs heavily in favor of the Indiana Hoosiers. The Sycamores have never beaten Indiana in eight previous meetings, and now they face their toughest test yet against a ranked opponent riding high from back-to-back dominant victories.
How Can You Watch Indiana vs. Indiana State?
Big Ten Network (BTN) will broadcast Friday’s 6:30 PM ET kickoff with Lisa Byington handling play-by-play duties, Jared Thomas providing analysis, and Melanie Ricks reporting from the sidelines.
Several streaming options make the game accessible:
- Fubo: 7-day free trial, $84.99/month with BTN included
- YouTube TV: 7-day free trial, $82.99/month with BTN included
- Hulu+ Live TV: $82.99/month with BTN, includes Disney+ and ESPN+
- DirectTV Stream: 5-day free trial, BTN available in Choice package
- Fox Sports App/Website: Streams BTN games free with cable authentication
- Sling TV: BTN available, may require sports add-on
International viewers may need to check regional availability, as BTN streaming access varies by location. Radio coverage airs on the IU Radio Network and locally on 105.5 The Legend.
What Makes This Indiana vs. Indiana State Matchup Special?
The modern series resumed in 2003 with a 33-3 Indiana victory, and Friday’s contest marks just the ninth meeting between the programs. All previous games have been played in Bloomington, with the Hoosiers maintaining their perfect 8-0 record, including a 41-7 victory in 2023.
Adding intrigue to the rivalry, Indiana State coach Curt Mallory is the son of Bill Mallory, Indiana’s all-time winningest coach, who led the Hoosiers from 1984 to 1996. The younger Mallory now tries to accomplish what no Sycamores coach has done: beat his father’s former program.
Both teams bring impressive early-season momentum into this clash. The Indiana Hoosiers struggled early against Old Dominion in a 27-14 win, but rebounded with a dominant 56-9 victory over Kennesaw State. Meanwhile, the Sycamores opened with wins over McKendree (41-24) and Eastern Illinois (38-14).
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza has driven Indiana’s success, completing 64.3% of his passes for 438 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Running back Roman Hemby averages 87.5 yards per game, while receiver Elijah Sarratt caught three touchdowns against Kennesaw State last week.
Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt (@elijah_sarratt) took off his shoes, grabbed some food, and turned on the TV — because he made himself right at home in the end zone against Kennesaw State.
Sarratt hauled in 9 catches for 97 yards and 3 TDs.#Hoosiers #IUFB #B1G pic.twitter.com/CD8zNgNxMU
— Bryan (@BGauvin23) September 10, 2025
For the Sycamores, running back Plez Lawrence has been their offensive catalyst, with three touchdowns in the season opener. Indiana State averages 431.5 total yards per game, ranking 19th among FCS teams. Its ground game rushed for over 200 yards in both contests.
The Sycamores face long odds but hope to flip the script after being dominated 41-7 in last year’s meeting. This represents their most significant opportunity to make a statement against a Big Ten opponent and prove their 2-0 start reflects genuine improvement.
Meanwhile, Indiana looks to stay sharp before opening Big Ten play against Illinois at 7:30 p.m. ET on September 20. The Hoosiers must maintain their momentum while avoiding the trap game scenario often accompanying heavily favored matchups against in-state opponents.
