What Is 1928 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 14, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1928 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University during the 1928 college football season, finishing with a 2–6 record under head coach Red Mouser. They played their home games at Jordan Field in Bloomington, Indiana.

Key Facts

The 1928 Indiana Hoosiers finished the season with a 2–6 overall record
Head coach Red Mouser led the team during his second season in Bloomington
The team played home games at Jordan Field, Indiana's home stadium from 1925–1956
They were outscored 187–54 over the course of the season
The Hoosiers played as an independent; they were not part of a conference in 1928

Overview

The 1928 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University during the college football season, competing as an independent with no conference affiliation. Coached by William M. 'Red' Mouser in his second year, the team struggled to find consistency on both offense and defense.

Playing their home games at Jordan Field in Bloomington, the Hoosiers faced a challenging schedule that included several stronger programs of the era. Despite their efforts, the team finished with a disappointing 2–6 record and was outscored by a significant margin.

Season Record: The 1928 Indiana Hoosiers finished with a 2–6 overall record, marking one of the more difficult seasons in the program’s early history.
Head Coach: Red Mouser served as head coach for his second consecutive season, attempting to build momentum after a 3–3–1 record in 1927.
Home Stadium: Jordan Field, located on the Indiana University campus, hosted all home games and had a capacity of approximately 15,000 spectators.
Scoring Differential: The team was outscored 187–54 for the season, averaging just 6.8 points per game while allowing 23.4 per contest.
Independent Status: Indiana competed as an independent in 1928, meaning they were not affiliated with any athletic conference, a common arrangement at the time.

Season Performance

The 1928 season was marked by offensive struggles and defensive vulnerabilities across multiple games. The Hoosiers faced a mix of regional and larger programs, which exposed gaps in team strength and depth.

Opening Game: Indiana opened the season with a 13–0 loss to Wabash College, a strong small-college team that outperformed the Hoosiers in all phases.
First Win: The Hoosiers earned their first victory on October 13 with a 7–0 win over DePauw, a hard-fought defensive battle.
Royals Shutout: On October 20, Indiana suffered a 34–0 defeat to the Dayton Flyers, highlighting defensive shortcomings against more experienced squads.
Close Loss: A narrow 7–6 loss to Butler on October 27 demonstrated improvement but also the fine margins in competitive matchups.
Road Struggles: Indiana lost all four of its road games, including a 40–0 defeat at Illinois, underscoring challenges in away environments.
Season Finale: The team closed the year with a 19–0 loss to rival Kentucky, finishing on a five-game losing streak.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 1928 Indiana Hoosiers compared to select peer teams in the Midwest during the same season:

Team	Record	Points For	Points Against	Head Coach
Indiana	2–6	54	187	Red Mouser
Illinois	2–6–1	68	117	Robert Zuppke
Ohio State	5–2–1	137	51	Sam Willaman
Michigan	3–4–1	83	83	Harry Kipke
Notre Dame	5–3	158	72	Knute Rockne

This table illustrates that while Indiana’s record was similar to Illinois and Michigan, their point differential was among the worst in the region. The Hoosiers scored fewer points and allowed more than most peers, indicating deeper systemic issues. Comparatively, programs like Ohio State and Notre Dame demonstrated greater consistency and scoring efficiency, highlighting the competitive gap in college football at the time.

Why It Matters

The 1928 season serves as a historical benchmark in Indiana football history, reflecting both the challenges of early 20th-century college athletics and the evolution of the program over time. Though not a successful season, it contributed to the long-term development of the Hoosiers' football identity.

Program Development: The struggles of 1928 underscored the need for improved recruiting, training, and coaching infrastructure at Indiana.
Historical Context: This season occurred during a transitional era in college football, before widespread integration of modern strategies and equipment.
Coaching Legacy: Red Mouser’s tenure, though brief, laid groundwork for future coaches to build upon in subsequent decades.
Stadium History: Games at Jordan Field are part of Indiana’s athletic heritage, later replaced by Memorial Stadium in 1960.
Rivalry Roots: Early matchups with schools like Butler and Kentucky helped establish regional rivalries still recognized today.
Statistical Record: The 1928 season is preserved in official NCAA records, contributing to Indiana’s all-time win-loss statistics.

Understanding teams like the 1928 Hoosiers provides context for the growth of college football programs and highlights how far Indiana has come in building a competitive athletic department.