Curt Cignetti chases history as Indiana sets a perfect mark against Charlotte

Charlotte (1-2) at Indiana (3-0), Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (BTN)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Indiana by 28 1/2.

Series record: First meeting.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti could make history on Saturday. The fourth of 30 Indiana coaches to begin their careers with three straight wins, he is now in position to become the first in the program's 140-year history to go 4-0. A win would also surpass Indiana's 2023 win total and put them two wins away from bowl eligibility. It's already been a milestone season. Indiana broke single-game records for points and total yards in its final home game. his first win in the Rose Bowl. In Charlotte, however, it has been a tough two football seasons. The NFL's 49ers and Carolina Panthers are a combined 6-28 since their 2023 opening games.

KEY GAME

Charlotte's secondary versus Indiana's passing game. Only 25 FBS teams allow more passing yards per game than the 49ers (260.0) and only four allow more yards per catch (15.6). It will be a challenge to slow down veteran quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who now plays in lockstep with crafty receiver Elijah Sarratt and averages 50.0 points per game (6th in the FBS).

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Charlotte: WR Jairus Mack. The speedy fourth-year player averaged 18.1 yards on 25 catches last season. He's been better this year, averaging 26.2 yards on six catches in three games. To pull off the upset, the 49ers will need to capitalize on this matchup early, as the Hoosiers' best cornerback, D'Angelo Ponds, is out for the first half because of last weekend's targeting call.

Indiana: DE Mikail Kamara. Yes, he has just seven tackles through three games, but the fourth-year player is the Hoosiers' best pass-rushing threat in years. Kamara seems to be figuring out how he fits into this defense. He now has three sacks and recovered a fumble on UCLA's first offensive play, setting the tone for the rest of the game.

Facts & Figures

Charlotte became a full FBS member in 2015, but has only beaten one Power Four school in that time (Duke, 2021). … Indiana last started 4-0 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. … This will be the 49ers' fourth meeting with a Big Ten school. They have lost twice to Maryland and once to Illinois. … Indiana set single-game records with 77 points and 701 total yards in its final home game. … Charlotte has had four players taken in the NFL Draft during its FBS era – receiver Grant DuBose (Green Bay, 2023), offensive lineman Nate Davis (Tennessee, 2019), defensive lineman Alex Highsmith (Pittsburgh, 2020) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (Cleveland, 2017). … Hoosier RBs Justice Ellison, Ty Son Lawton and Elijah Green have each rushed for three TDs. … Charlotte's run defense allows 171.0 yards per game, 99th out of 134 FBS schools. … Indiana K Nicolas Radicic has converted all 17 of his extra point attempts over the past two weeks and is 21 of 21 this season. … The Hoosiers received 13 votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 poll.

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