Hoosiers, Ramsey rout Connecticut

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana quarterback Peyton Ramsey understands the art of the comeback.

On Saturday, he proved he still has it.

Ramsey played virtually flawlessly Saturday, completing all but four passes, throwing for 247 yards and three touchdowns to help the Hoosiers shrug off last week's blowout loss with a 38-3 rout over Connecticut.

“It was kind of a point of emphasis all week at practice to be crisp and sharp and take what they give us,” he said. “It was a good day for sure.”

To Ramsey, who started 16 games in 2017 and 2018, this not about vindication.

It was about living up to the challenge coach Tom Allen issued during practice following last week's 51-10 loss to No. 6 Ohio State. And with injured starter Michael Penix Jr. mi s s i n g h i s second straight game, Ramsey took full advantage of his second chance.

He made it look easy, too, after tight end Peyton Hendershot lost a fumble on the third play from scrimmage. UConn (1-2) converted the turnover into a 41-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

Ramsey took control on the next series, leading the Hoosiers to the go-ahead touchdown and never gave the Huskies another chance.

He sealed UConn's 18th consecutive loss against a Football Bowl Subdivision foe and a crucial threegame nonconference sweep for Indiana (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten).

“Peyton was extremely accurate and that's what he does really, really well,” Allen said after Ramsey went 23 of 27. “Obviously, Peyton is extremely talented and is a great leader and led us to another win. He's done that many, many times. The execution was very impressive.”

Ramsey had plenty of help.

Running back Stevie Scott finally found his groove, rushing 21 times for a season-high 97 yards and closed out the scoring with a 6-yard TD run. Indiana's defense was impenetrable and linebacker Cam Jones opened the second-half scoring by returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown.

But it was Ramsey who got the Hoosiers righted by closing out their second possession with a 12-yard TD pass to Whop Philyor to make it 7-3 and a 4-yard TD pass to Hendershot to make it 17-3 late in the first half