A one-day warm-up in temperature also brought an increased risk of severe thunderstorms, which impacted the Indiana football homecoming game against Michigan State.
The No. 3 Hoosiers (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten) had a historic week and were ready to put it “in the rearview mirror” with Saturday’s kick off. It presented an opportunity to remain undefeated and potentially move up to No. 2 nationally after Miami (Florida) lost Friday night.
But first, IU needed to get past a battered and bruised Spartans team. The Hoosiers were coming off a historic win at previously No. 2 Oregon. One day later, coach Curt Cignetti was speculated with the Penn State job after IU grad Pat Kraft fired James Franklin. IU’s response was to make Cignetti the third-highest paid coach in the country with an average annual value of $11.6 million per year through 2033.
But putting all that behind them didn’t come without a hangup. Severe thunderstorms and lightning have delayed the game at 5:07 p.m. in Bloomington. IU announced on social media the game will resume at 5:37 p.m.
A lightning strike within 10 miles of Memorial Stadium automatically leads to a 30-minute delay, and the clock resets with each successive strike.
The National Weather Service at 4:37 p.m. said, “Strong thunderstorms will impact portions of northwestern Monroe, Morgan, northwestern Johnson, Hendricks, Owen, western Marion, northeastern Greene and eastern Putnam Counties through 515 PM EDT.” It included a 9-mile line of storms that could bring wind gusts of 50 mph, though hail was not expected.
Michigan State scored on its first two possessions and IU answered to claim the lead. Then IU’s defense stuffed the Spartans on successive possesions and the offense scored to take a 21-10 lead into half — the second defensive stop ran out the clock in the first half.
According to the National Weather Service in Indianapolis, there was a hazardous weather outlook for Saturday. The statement read, “Thunderstorms are possible this afternoon focused mainly across the northwest half of central Indiana, with additional thunderstorms over the entire area late tonight. A few storms may produce strong wind gusts this afternoon, then again overnight as a narrow line of storms tracks quickly east. Locally heavy rainfall is possible. Cloud to ground lightning is a threat with any thunderstorm.”
Indiana weather radar map today, Oct. 18, 2025. Severe weather for Michigan State vs. Indiana football game today. Is Michigan State vs IU in a weather delay?
This story will be updated.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why is Indiana football game delayed vs Michigan State? Weather, radar, updates, score today
Reporting by Aaron Ferguson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
