There’s nothing like a proud football mom on victory weekend. Especially when her son just helped deliver one of the Big Ten’s biggest upsets of the season. No. 7 Indiana’s 30-20 road stunner over No. 3 Oregon sent one mom straight to social media with something to get off her chest. And let’s just say, her message carried a bit more bite than your usual “that’s my baby” post. A shot at Deion Sanders’ Colorado?

On October 13, LaTonya Benson, the mother of Kahlil Benson, Indiana’s returning offensive lineman, took to X with a message that felt equal parts pride and payback. “My Man Child makes my heart smile!” she wrote alongside photos of her son in Hoosier red. “Last season they doubted & talked bad about you, while IU is excited you’re back! You shut down projected 2nd round D-Ends’ mouths today! Sounds like you’re winning! #Receipts #67REASONS.” The former Big Ten starter made a brief detour to Deion Sanders’ Colorado program and had been written off by plenty. 

Last season, critics questioned Kahlil Benson’s consistency, his toughness, and even his fit. But back in Bloomington, he’s found both his groove and his gratitude. In 2023, he started at right tackle for Indiana before transferring to Colorado as part of Deion Sanders’ roster overhaul. Even Coach Prime himself seemed to sense the sting when the 6’5, 325-pounder left. “Love ya my man and tell mama she can still cook even tho u dipped on me,” he wrote back with his trademark mix of charm and shade. “Lololol I’m gon miss ya man.”

But Kahlil Benson wasn’t just another portal move. He was one of the few who wasn’t afraid to speak up when things didn’t feel right. During a fiery practice session last season, he called out the Buffs’ offensive line for slacking. He played 318 snaps across seven games for the Buffs, moving between right guard, left guard, and tackle. But the fit never quite clicked. At Indiana, however, things are different. 

Kahlil Benson is back with a thriving program 

Playing under the national spotlight on CBS’s 3:30 window with College GameDay buzzing in Eugene, the Hoosiers were sending a message. Indiana carried a slim 13-10 lead into halftime and eked out a 20-13 edge in the third quarter, quietly asserting control against a Dante Moore-led Oregon offense that had been torching defenses all season.

The fourth quarter was when the Hoosiers’ grit truly shined. Fernando Mendoza orchestrated a clutch, game-sealing drive, while the Hoosiers’ offensive line held Oregon’s pass rush at bay. By the final whistle, Indiana had stunned the Ducks 30-20, snapping Oregon’s 23-game regular-season win streak and their 18-game home streak. For a program with a 1-72 all-time record against AP top-5 teams, this was a statement.

Indiana’s season trajectory suddenly feels unstoppable. The Hoosiers improved to 6-0 for the second straight year and 3-0 in the Big Ten, adding a second top-10 scalp to their resume after the 63-10 demolition of No. 9 Illinois. National narratives about Indiana’s limitations are now crushed under the weight of a road win that demanded attention.