Indiana Football’s Shocking Upsets: Counting Every Time They Toppled a Top-10 Titan

Saturday night in Bloomington is gearing up to be something special — Indiana football is set to take on Illinois in what’s the first showdown between top-20 teams from these schools since way back in 1950. Now, here’s where it really gets juicy: the No. 17 Hoosiers, unbeaten at 3-0, are looking to snag that elusive marquee win that slipped through their fingers last season. Illinois, sitting pretty at No. 8 with the same perfect record, has cracked the top 10 for the first time in over two decades — since December 2001, to be exact. The stakes? Potentially massive for College Football Playoff dreams. It’s not just another game; it’s mold-breaking history and a clash that could reshape the narratives for both programs. Indiana’s record against top-10 foes isn’t exactly flooded with W’s — only six all-time, with the last one coming against Penn State in a heart-stopping overtime victory in 2020. Their only home triumph over a top-tier opponent dates even further back, to a ‘67 win over Purdue. So, this isn’t just about a Saturday night contest — it’s about a chance to rewrite some serious program lore. Ready to dive deeper? LEARN MORE

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football hosts Illinois on Saturday night in the first top-20 matchup between the teams since 1950.

It’s a game that could have huge College Football Playoff implications with the No. 17 Hoosiers (3-0) looking to pick up the type of signature win that their résumé lacked last season against No. 8 Illinois (3-0), which cracked the top 10 this year for the first time since December 2001.

Indiana only has six victory’s against top-10 opponents in program history with the last of those wins coming against No. 7 Penn State, 36-35 OT, in 2020. The Hoosiers only other win over a top-10 opponent at home was a 19-14 win over No. 3 Purdue in 1967.

That remains IU’s only win at Memorial Stadium over a top-10 team.

Indiana football’s wins over top-10 opponents

11/6/37: at No. 8 Ohio State, 10-0
11/7/42: at No. 7 Minnesota, 7-0
11/25/67: No. 3 Purdue, 19-14,
12/21/79: vs. No 9 BYU, 38-37 (Holiday Bowl)
10/101987: at No. 9 Ohio State, 31-10
10/24/20: No. 8/7 Penn State, 36-35 OT

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.