4. Indiana Hoosiers
2020 FInal RankingS
AP 12, Coaches 13
Final Record: 6-2
What Made 2020 Special?
The Big Ten had to change its own rules to keep Indiana out of the Big Ten Championship … in football.
Okay, so it was the right move since Ohio State won the head-to-head battle with the Hoosiers, but still, IU was good enough and relevant enough to be the second-best team in the Big Ten …
Again, in football, considering they walloped the Michigan State team that beat Northwestern.
It would’ve been a great year for IU football if it just went bowling for the second straight season under Tom Allen – and better if the program could win one of these post-season things for the first time since 1991, but I’m riffing here – and it would’ve been a great season if it beat Penn State, or Michigan, or Michigan State, or Wisconsin.
It did all of that, and now …
Why 2021 Will Be A Bit Worse: Returning Talent
Indiana won’t have a problem with returning talent. Actually, it should be even better if QB Michael Penix Jr’s injured knee is just fine for the season.
The team is getting a little help from the transfer portal, star WR Ty Fryfogle returns, almost all of the top tacklers are back, and there’s a whole lot to love on both lines to expect the team to be even more dangerous and competitive.
So what’s the problem?
Why 2021 Will Be A Bit Worse: Schedule
– 2021 Indiana Football Schedule Analysis
We’re all adults here. We can speak freely.
Of course Penix didn’t get in for the two-point conversion to beat Penn State 36-35 in overtime, but the ruling was that he did. That’s what we call in the business a big break – the 2020 season would’ve been a whole lot different if that call went the other way.
Penn State is going to be stronger. Michigan will be better. Michigan State should be more competitive, Ohio State is Ohio State, and …
Indiana isn’t beating the Nittany Lions AND the Wolverines AND the Spartans again. It might win one or two, but there’s that, there’s the opener at Iowa, there’s Cincinnati coming to town (uh oh), the Penn State and Michigan games are on the road, Minnesota is a tough game, and everything finishes at Purdue.
The Hoosiers can still be fantastic and yet 8-4 would be a wee step back.