Know Your Enemy: Illinois Football vs No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers

If Illinois Football wants to leave Bloomington (IN) with a statement victory, Bret Bielema’s No. 9 squad will have to contain several key players for the 19th-ranked Hoosiers.

At the top of that list is Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza, a potential first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and one of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Through just three games, the talented senior has thrown for 708 yards, 9 touchdowns, zero interceptions, and boasts a 72% completion rate. He’s an experienced, poised gunslinger who’s in a much better spot than last year, when he was the second most sacked quarterback (45) in the country with the Golden Bears. Now, Mendoza—and the rest of this Hoosier team—looks fired up to make a statement in 2025.

This matchup will be Indiana’s first true test of the season, making it interesting to see how Mendoza handles the heat if All-American Gabe Jacas and the Illini front seven can crank up the pressure. Regardless, Curt Cignetti has surrounded his star QB with plenty of talent across the roster to support him.

Still, “the quarterback everyone knows is good” is boring, and only tells a small part of the story.

Beyond Mendoza, here are three other Hoosiers Illinois Football fans should watch closely when Illinois kicks off under the primetime lights of a sold-out Memorial Stadium.

Omar Cooper Jr. – Wide Receiver

Omar Cooper Jr. is the type of explosive playmaker who can punish a defense if he isn’t contained. He’s coming off a record-tying performance, after torching Indiana State, and going off for 4 touchdowns and 207 yards in the Hoosiers’ 73–0 rout of the Sycamores.

That monster outing vaulted Cooper to the top of the Big Ten leaderboard in touchdown receptions with four—all against their in-state FCS foe, who were missing starting QB (and Central Illinois native) Elijah Owens. Regardless, it was an eye-opening night that boosted his season totals to 13 catches for 299 yards and 4 scores on the season thus far, while averaging 23 yards per play.

Cooper’s big-play ability poses a real threat to an Illini secondary likely missing star corner Xavier Scott. Scott’s status was made doubtful by Bret Bielema. Cooper’s threat in slot certainly makes for an intriguing challenge for Aaron Henry’s defense.

D’Angelo Ponds – Defensive Back

A guy Hoosiers fans are VERY happy Curt Cignetti brought along with him, as he made the transition from James Madison to Bloomington back in 2024.

Another projected first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, D’Angelo Ponds is a ball-hawking defensive back who can shut down an opponent’s top receiver. Ponds consistently forces quarterbacks like Luke Altmyer into uncomfortable situations.

In 2024, the second-team ESPN All-American finished third on the team in tackles with 55 (36 solo), in addition to 4.5 tackles for loss. Ponds additionally led Indiana in pass breakups with 9.  He also tallied three interceptions along with a blocked kick over the course of the season. Now, just three games into the 2025 season, Ponds has already recorded 9 solo tackles and a takeaway leading up to this massive week 4 matchup with Illinois Football.

At 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, he isn’t the biggest defender, which could make 6’4” Justin Bowick a potential size mismatch. Still, D’Angelo’s high football IQ, quick reads, and ability to create turnovers make him a player Altmyer will want to avoid.

Mikail Kamara – Interior Defensive Lineman

If Illinois’ offensive line doesn’t set the tone early, Mikail Kamara could wreak havoc in the trenches.

The First-Team All-Big Ten and Third-Team All-American defensive tackle has quickly become one of the Big Ten’s most disruptive forces. Since arriving in Bloomington in 2024, Kamara has piled up 53 tackles (22 solo), 11 sacks, and 19 tackles for loss. He has also forced two forced fumbles.

Cignetti certainly made a good choice in bringing this guy along with him… He’s a proven game-wrecker with the ability to derail the Illini’s rushing attack, and make Altmyer uncomfortable in the pocket.

If Illinois struggles to establish the run early, Kamara could change the outlook of this game.

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