BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (Interstat) — Indiana defeated visiting Western Kentucky 38-0 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at Memorial Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game. The Hoosiers improved to 3-0, while the Hilltoppers fell to 0-3. Attendance was 54,695. Indiana scored 14 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second and 7 in the third. The Hoosiers’ defense kept Western Kentucky off the scoreboard, and Indiana’s offense produced a balanced performance.

Western Kentucky entered the game after a 70-20 loss at Georgia on Sept. 12 and a 49-14 loss at Nevada on Sept. 5. Indiana had beaten Howard 55-0 on Sept. 12 and North Texas 52-16 on Sept. 5. The Hoosiers’ win continued a strong start to the season, while the Hilltoppers remained in search of their first victory.

Josh Hoover led Indiana at quarterback. He completed 18 of 24 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns, ran twice for 2 yards and accounted for two scores. Hoover, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound quarterback from Rockwall, Texas, was Indiana’s top star. In his previous game, on Sept. 12, 2026, against Howard, Hoover completed 6 of 11 passes for 145 yards, ran six times for 18 yards and threw four touchdowns in a 55-0 win. Against Western Kentucky, Hoover directed an offense that moved the ball through the air and on the ground.

Charlie Becker was Hoover’s leading receiver. Becker caught five passes for 127 yards and a touchdown and returned one punt for 17 yards. Nick Marsh added seven receptions for 81 yards. Shazz Preston had three catches for 32 yards. Davion Chandler caught two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Morris added one reception for 14 yards. Grant Wilson also saw time at quarterback and completed his only pass for 7 yards.

Indiana’s running game produced consistently. Turbo Richard rushed 15 times for 149 yards and a touchdown. Lee Beebe Jr. carried 17 times for 50 yards and two touchdowns and added one reception for 2 yards. Sean Cuono ran five times for 29 yards. Jayreon Campbell had one carry for 7 yards. The Hoosiers controlled the line of scrimmage and kept Western Kentucky’s defense on the field.

Western Kentucky’s offense struggled to finish drives. Brock Glenn completed 17 of 32 passes for 120 yards. He also ran 11 times for 30 yards and was credited with one tackle. Ajay Allen led the Hilltoppers on the ground with 10 carries for 22 yards and caught three passes for 8 yards. Jonathan Stafford Jr. ran three times for 14 yards and caught six passes for 27 yards. Le’Kamren Meadows ran twice for 5 yards, and Zion Taylor added one carry for 4 yards.

CC Ezirim caught two passes for 30 yards for Western Kentucky. Cameron Flowers had two receptions for 20 yards. Lofton Howard added two catches for 19 yards. Quincy Burroughs caught one pass for 11 yards. Moussa Barry had one reception for 5 yards. The Hilltoppers moved the ball in short gains but could not reach the end zone.

Western Kentucky’s defense made several stops despite the final margin. Jaylen Lewis recorded 11 tackles. Xavion Griffin had nine tackles. Westen Ard finished with nine tackles and one sack. Jaylen Wester added eight tackles. Justin Brown had five tackles. Tony Newsome Jr. and Latrevion Thompson each had four tackles. Mackavelli Malotumau had three tackles and one sack. Dave Herard and Rylen Su’a-Filo each made three tackles. Elijah Rumph, Christian White, Javin Griffin, Geajorm Akpaloo, Zsacari Minnis, Jaylen Pollard, Braxton Myers, Jakeem Fletcher, Darius Hampton, Josaiah Knight and Jacob Cosby-Mosley each were credited with one tackle.

Jackson Smith punted seven times for 333 yards for Western Kentucky. Indiana’s defense limited the Hilltoppers throughout the game. Amare Ferrell made five tackles. Rolijah Hardy had nine tackles and one quarterback hurry. Preston Zachman recorded eight tackles. Ryland Gandy had six tackles. Isaiah Jones finished with five tackles, one quarterback hurry and one interception. Jamari Sharpe added five tackles.

In the first quarter, Paddy McAteer attempted a 54-yard field goal for Indiana, but the kick was no good. Indiana’s defense held Western Kentucky without points in the opening period, and the Hoosiers built their lead from there. Indiana’s scoring included a 1-yard touchdown run by Lee Beebe Jr. that was upheld after a review to determine whether the runner broke the plane. McAteer made the extra point and later added a 21-yard field goal.

Josh Hoover connected with Charlie Becker for a 79-yard touchdown pass, with Becker catching the deep middle pass near the Western Kentucky 35 and finishing in the end zone. Beebe added a 2-yard touchdown run, and Turbo Richard added a 25-yard touchdown run. McAteer made each kick attempt after the touchdowns.

Western Kentucky will next host Mercyhurst on Sept. 26. The Hilltoppers will visit New Mexico State on Oct. 1, host Missouri State on Oct. 8 and visit Sam Houston on Oct. 14. Western Kentucky will host Delaware on Oct. 27, visit Middle Tennessee on Nov. 7, host Jacksonville State on Nov. 14, visit Liberty on Nov. 21 and host Kennesaw State on Nov. 28. Indiana will next host Northwestern on Sept. 25. The Hoosiers will visit Rutgers on Oct. 3, visit Nebraska on Oct. 10 and host Ohio State on Oct. 17. Indiana will visit Michigan on Oct. 24, host Minnesota on Oct. 31, host Southern California on Nov. 14, visit Washington on Nov. 21 and host Purdue on Nov. 28.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Indiana 36, Western Kentucky 35. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Indiana with a 99.2 percent probability to win. Western Kentucky had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +44.5. The total score of 38 went over the over/under line of 60.5.