LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana Football vs. Akron Week 4 Action

Indiana football wraps up the nonconference portion of its schedule against the Akron Zips Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET at Memorial Stadium Follow all the action with our live blog, written by HoosiersNow.com reporter Jack Ankony live from the Memorial Stadium press box.

Jack Ankony | Sep 23, 2023

LIVE BLOG: Follow Indiana Football vs. Akron Week 4 Action /

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Indiana Hoosiers

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – We've returned to Memorial Stadium for Indiana's matchup against the Akron Zips Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Coach Tom Allen and the Hoosiers are coming off a narrow 21-14 loss to Louisville last week, moving their record to 1-2 on the season. Akron holds the same record this year, and most recently lost 35-3 at Kentucky.

Follow along with our live blog where we'll post updates and opinions throughout the game, live from the Memorial Stadium press box.

11:35 p.m. – Irons' pass to the end zone falls incomplete. Indiana wins one of the more unbelievable games of all time. FINAL: INDIANA 29, AKRON 27.

11:33 p.m. – Donaven McCulley lined up at QB, pitched it back to Jackson, who threw it to DeQuece Carter for the 2-point conversion. Akron has a chance to match. INDIANA 29, AKRON 27

11:31 p.m. – Jaylin Lucas could not have been more wide open in the end zone, but Tayven Jackson didn't see him. To quadruple-overtime we go.

11:30 p.m. – In triple-overtime, Lanell Carr's pressure causes an Akron holding, so their 2-point conversion attempt is no good. Triple-overtime is all 2-point conversions.

11:26 p.m. – Andre Carter makes a crucial tackle on 3rd and 3. Akron kicks a field goal, so we're headed to triple-overtime. AKRON 27, INDIANA 27

11:25 p.m. – Irons gains 14 yards with his legs, giving Akron a fresh set of downs at the 12-yard line. Big play from Irons, who has absolutely killed Indiana on the ground tonight.

11:22 p.m. – Jackson was pressured on 3rd and 6, so Indiana will have to start double-overtime with a field goal attempt. Chris Freeman's 39-yard field goal is good. Akron can win with a touchdown or send it to triple-overtime with a field goal. Indiana can win the game with a defensive stop. INDIANA 27, AKRON 24.

11:17 p.m. – TOUCHDOWN INDIANA. Crucial first-down completion from Jackson to McCulley gives Indiana a fresh set of downs from the 12-yard line. On the next play, it was a risky pass from Jackson, but it's ultimately complete to Cam Camper for a touchdown. We'll head to double-overtime. INDIANA 24, AKRON 24

11:13 p.m. – TOUCHDOWN AKRON. What a play by DJ Irons. On 3rd and 9, it looked like Indiana had a chance to sack him for a 5-10 yard loss, but he juked a couple defenders and dove into the end zone for a touchdown. Irons was as far back as the 26-yard line. Indiana will get a chance to match Akron's score. AKRON 24, INDIANA 17

11:05 p.m. – Akron kicker Dante Jackson missed a 32-yard field goal that would have won the game. Unbelievable. We're going to overtime.

11:01 p.m. – Akron QB DJ Irons scrambles for a 34-yard gain to the Indiana 25-yard line with just over one minute left in the game. Akron will have a chance to kick a game-winning field goal if it doesn't score before that.

10:59 p.m. – Tayven Jackson is sacked for an eight-yard loss, which doomed the Indiana drive. It has to punt now, giving Akron a chance to potentially win the game. Indiana will punt after an Akron timeout with 1:36 left in the game.

10:53 p.m. – TOUCHDOWN AKRON. Lorenzo Lingard breaks free of the defense for a 71-yard touchdown run. Looks like Indiana made a couple mistakes with its run fits, and it was pretty well-blocked by Akron. It's a tie game. INDIANA 17, AKRON 17.

10: 51 p.m. – It's another three-and-out for Indiana. The Hoosiers had a chance to put this game away, but instead Akron will take over at its own 20-yard line with a chance to tie the game.

10:45 p.m. – LeDarrius Cox tackles Akron for a 2-yard loss, bringing up 4th and 4. Akron punts, so Indiana takes over at its own 38-yard line. Akron only has one timeout, so Indiana might be able to run the clock out here with a couple first downs. 5:55 remains in the game.

10:39 p.m. – Indiana had two plays from the 2-yard line, but gets stuffed twice at the goal line again. It's unbelievable how much Indiana has struggled at the goal line this season. In addition to Indiana's failure from 18 inches away last week, it's been stuffed four times from the 2-yard line or closer tonight. That simply can't happen. In the end, Indiana settles for a 19-yard field goal from Chris Freeman. INDIANA 17, AKRON 10

10:36 p.m. – Christian Turner picks up 17 yards for the Hoosiers up the middle. He's been a bright spot in an otherwise dismal offensive performance from Indiana. Turner has eight catches for 49 yards and a touchdown.

10:34 p.m. – On 3rd and 6, Jackson's completes a sharp pass to tight end Trey Walker for a 12-yard gain. Still plenty of time left in this game, but if Indiana can score here and churn away a good chunk of clock, Akron will be in a tough spot. That's easier said than done, though, as Indiana's offense has had a poor game tonight.

10:27 p.m. – Akron follows suit with a three-and-out of its own. It's been an ugly game, but Indiana defense is putting together another solid performance.

10:23 p.m. – It's another three-and-out for Indiana, who has really struggled on offense tonight. Jaylin Lucas was immediately swarmed by four Akron defenders, leading to a 7-yard loss on first down, which set back the whole drive. Indiana punts.

10:18 p.m. – On 3rd and 7, Louis Moore limits Akron to a three-yard rushing gain, bringing up fourth down. On 4th and 4, Andre Carter threw Undercuffler to the ground for an 11-yard sack. Big play for the Indiana defense.

10:15 p.m. – Undercuffler remains in at quarterback. His most recent pass fell incomplete, but Indiana safety Noah Pierre was flagged for pass interference, giving the Zips 15 yards and a fresh set of downs.

10:07 p.m. – Jeff Undercuffler Jr. now in at quarterback for Akron, and he throws a pick-six to Louis Moore on his second pass attempt. Huge play for the Hoosiers. That's Moore's second interception of the game. Not sure if the quarterback change was injury related or not, but Irons did get hit pretty hard on the last drive. INDIANA 14, AKRON 10.

10:02 p.m. – It's a quick three-and-out for Indiana, whose offense has been abysmal tonight, with just 173 total yards. Jackson has completed 6-of-16 passes.

10:00 p.m. – Indiana gets a crucial 4th down stop on 4th and 7, bringing the pressure on DJ Irons to cause an incomplete pass. Indiana takes over on its own 33-yard line. Indiana really needs to get things going here.

9:58 p.m. – Indiana's Nick James and Lanell Carr Jr. combined to stuff the Akron run and bring up 4th and 7. Timeout Akron, as it has to decide between kicking a 50-yard field goal or going for it on 4th and 7.

9:54 p.m. – Irons completes a 28-yard pass to Gathings to convert 3rd and 3. That's a big play to keep the drive alive after the onside kick.

9:51 p.m. – Akron kicker Dante Jackson kicked a line drive right at Indiana's up-man Andison Coby, who had little time to react to the fast-paced kick in such a short distance. The ball ricocheted off Pierre, and Akron recovered, looking to extend its lead.

9:46 p.m. – TOUCHDOWN AKRON. DJ Irons slices through the Indiana defense for a 14-yard touchdown run. The Hoosiers have had a really difficult time containing his rushing ability. He's up to 68 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts. AKRON 10, INDIANA 7

9:45 p.m. – Irons completes a 22-yard pass to Bobby Golden to convert 3rd and 11. The Zips get an extra 15 yards as Andre Carter was flagged for roughing the passer on the play. That puts Akron on the Indiana 15-yard line on the opening drive of the half.

9:42 p.m. – Akron converts 3rd and 1 with a three-yard rush up the middle, bringing it across midfield.

9:40 p.m. – Akron takes over at its own 26-yard line to start the second half. Irons connects with Daniel George for a first down.

9:15 p.m. – Indiana runs five plays then punts just before halftime. Almost nothing is working for the offense right now. Akron takes over at its own 21-yard line with 46 seconds left in the half.

9:10 p.m. – Jaylin Lucas sets Indiana up with optimal field position after a 34-yard kick return with 1:51 left in the first half.

9:08 p.m. – After review, the call on the field is confirmed as an incomplete pass. Akron opts for a 25-yard field-goal attempt, which was made by Dante Jackson. INDIANA 7, AKRON 3

9:06 p.m. – Irons' pass on 3rd and Goal was caught by the receiver, who was ruled out of bounds in the back of the end zone. They'll review this.

9:03 p.m. – Tayven Jackson's pass is intercepted by Andrew Behm and returned 23 yards to the Indiana 24-yard line. On the replay, it looked like Jackson did not see Behm, a linebacker, roaming in the middle. Akron has good field position and a chance to tie the game.

9:01 p.m. – An Indiana late hit caused a skirmish on the sideline, leading to multiple unsportsmanlike conduct, including one involving an Akron assistant coach being on the Indiana sideline. After it all, penalties offset and Akron punts.

8:53 p.m. – Indiana catches a break as Alex Adams dropped what would have been a huge gain and possible touchdown.

8:51 p.m. – On 3rd and Goal from the 2, Donaven McCulley lined up at quarterback and ran the ball up the middle but was shut down for a one-yard gain. Indiana ran a similar play with McCulley on 4th and Goal from the 1-yard line, but he was shut down again. McCulley played quarterback in high school and during his first year at Indiana in 2021, but he converted to receiver before the 2022 season. That's a big missed opportunity for Indiana, who's goal-line offense continues to struggle.

8:46 p.m. – DJ Irons' pass on 3rd and 19 is intercepted by Indiana safety Louis Moore, who nearly returned it for a touchdown. He ultimately came up just short, ruled out at the 4-yard line.

8:39 p.m. – Indiana runs two designed quarterback runs on first and second and goal, which generated a combined two runs. It doesn't make a ton of sense to me to run those similar plays back-to-back. Anyways, Christian Turner makes up for it with a six-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. INDIANA 7, AKRON 0

8:36 p.m. – Christian Turner's first run of the game goes for a 12-yard gain, then Jackson hit Cam Camper with a really nice lofted pass for a 40-yard gain to the Akron 28-yard line. Camper has two catches for 80 yards now.

8:33 p.m. – Quick three and out from Akron gives the ball back to Indiana.

8:30 p.m. – Indiana went for it on 4th and 2, but Jackson's pass to tight end Trey Walker fell incomplete. It was a play-action pass that was thrown a bit behind Walker, who still had a solid opportunity to catch it. Game remains scoreless.

8:27 p.m. – After the first quarter, Indiana and Akron are in a scoreless tie. Indiana will have 4th and 2 from the Akron 34-yard line when the second quarter resumes.

8:25 p.m. – Pretty nice throw from Tayven Jackson, who did a good job of stepping up in the pocket to avoid the pass rush, but Cam Camper was unable to haul it in. Would have been roughly a 40-yard gain. On 3rd and 7, Jackson zipped a pass to tight end Bradley Archer in a narrow window for a first down. An Akron facemask penalty gives the Hoosiers 15 more yards, moving them past midfield.

8:18 p.m. – A holding penalty on Akron brings up 3rd and 19, and Indiana safety Noah Pierre sacks Irons for a one-yard loss. Indiana's defense has been a bit vulnerable to Irons' rushing ability, but it's come up with a few big plays when needed. That holding penalty really hurt Akron, too.

8:13 p.m. – Akron quarterback DJ Irons is giving Indiana some trouble with his legs. He's up to three rushes for 38 yards, but an unsportsmanlike conduct pushes Akron back to its own 32-yard line.

8:08 p.m. – A really nice touch-pass from Jackson down the sideline is complete to Cam Camper for a 40-yard gain. But Indiana's drive ends on 3rd and 9, as Donaven McCulley dropped an easy pass. There was no Akron defender near him. It would have been a first down and possibly a 30-yard gain had he caught it. That's a big missed opportunity for Indiana.

8:04 p.m. – After the interception, Indiana linebacker Aaron Casey was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct because he pushed an Akron player off the pile. Seems like an unnecessary penalty, in my opinion.

8:02 p.m. – INTERCEPTION INDIANA. A Rough throw from DJ Irons really had no chance of being completed, and it leads to Phillip Dunnam's third interception of the season. Teammates have said Dunnam comes down with the most interceptions in practice, and that's stayed true on game day. Big play from the Indiana defense to stop the Akron drive.

7:55 p.m. – Akron brought in a new quarterback, Tahj Bullock, for 3rd and 2, and he runs forward for an eight-yard gain and an Akron first down.

7:53 p.m. – Akron's first play is a 21-yard pass down the sideline to Alex Adams. Quarterback DJ Irons ran up the middle for an 11-yard gain on the next play, bringing Akron across midfield.

7:51 p.m. – Tayven Jackson handed the ball to Jaylin Lucas between the tackles on the first two plays, and Indiana gained four total yards. On 3rd and 6, Jackson was pressured by the Akron Pass rush, and scrambled for a three-yard loss. That'll go down as a sack in the stat book. A quick three-and-out for Indiana on its first drive.

7:45 p.m. – Kickoff has been delayed a bit at Memorial Stadium, as captains just met at midfield. Akron won the coin toss and deferred, so Indiana will receive the opening kick off. Here we go.

7:15 p.m. – Indiana will be without running back Josh Henderson, wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr., offensive lineman Max Longman, tight end James Bomba, cornerback Jamier Johnson and quarterback Dexter Williams II, according to the pregame injury report.

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