Indiana Hoosier to watch
Michael Penix Jr. threw for 320 yards and hit Ty Fryfogle for two touchdown passes as No. 10 Indiana remained unbeaten with a 24-0 victory over Michigan State. Next up for the Hoosiers: Ohio State.
by @noahtrister
https://t.co/T8eSzNGIBv— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 14, 2020
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Michael Penix, jr. – QB — Pinex Jr. didn’t get to play against Ohio State last season, but he’s one of the best under center in the league. He won the starting job his freshman season over a pretty good quarterback in his own right, Patrick Ramsey. The Tampa native is a little raw still in the passing game (but improving), but he’s extremely dangerous on the ground. Because of his allusiveness, he’s able to keep plays alive and give receivers time to break free.
It’ll be by far the most mobile quarterback the Ohio State defense has faced this year, and he’ll make some plays. It’ll just be up to the coaching staff and players to limit those breakouts, and stay locked on receivers until he gets past the line of scrimmage. Keep him contained in the pocket and spy if you have to.
Indiana can win the game if …
It can score with Ohio State. There may not be a team in college football that can keep the lid on the Buckeye offense, and that means Indiana will need to keep pace and move the chains and score touchdowns itself. If Indiana can get a few key stops on defense and stay in the game, this one could be a fourth-quarter game.
However, to do that, Penix is going to have to be the playmaker and difference for Indiana. He has to come out and be able to make plays in the passing game as well as with his legs. A one-dimensional Penix is bad enough but containable at times. If he can complete more than the 60.7 percent of his passes he’s slinging around this year, we might be seeing a close one.
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