Ohio State is all set to host Indiana in the ‘Shoe on Saturday for a top ten matchup. Here’s everything you need to know about the Hoosiers.
Just like we’ve done over the last couple of seasons, we’ll be providing a preview of Ohio State’s opponent for the upcoming week. It’s a coronavirus pandemic shortened slate, and a chance of other games being canceled, so we’ll have to stay on our toes.
So, if you want to impress your friends while watching the game, we’ve got your cheat code right here. We do the research, you drop nuggets. You win on Saturdays. It’s as simple as that.
Ohio State’s fourth official game of the year is against an Indiana squad that is remarkably ranked inside the top ten, the two teams first and only matchup when both are that highly ranked. This one is for the lead in the Big Ten East Division, and even though the Buckeyes have been installed as an almost three-touchdown favorite, this could be a donnybrook.
Before Ohio State takes on Indiana, we scout the offense and defense of the Hoosiers. They have been good, but here’s how to beat them.
By now, you know that there’s a pretty big matchup between Ohio State and Indiana this weekend. It’s the first time the Buckeyes and Hoosiers have met with both inside the top ten, and that’s mostly because IU has been one of the biggest surprises of the college football season to date.
I went back and watched the film of the Indiana Hoosiers trying to understand how they could be undefeated when no one gave them a chance before the season. Looking back, a lot of people predicted somewhere between seven and eight wins (all before the coronavirus pandemic in a regular schedule). While many thought they were an up and coming team, there weren’t many predicting Indiana would be the team it has shown to be up to this point.
The Hoosiers have so far shocked everyone by beating Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan, and Michigan State, all while heading into the Ohio State matchup undefeated. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been outstanding and the defense has stepped up to help lead the way towards an undefeated start. Let’s scout the Hoosiers starting with the offense.
It’s the first time Ohio State and Indiana will match up as top-ten opponents. See our keys to the game and how we see it playing out.
Raise your hand if you thought Indiana would be the biggest test of the Big Ten season for Ohio State. Yeah, me either, and yet here we are. What head coach Tom Allen has done there in Bloomington is quite amazing. And it’s all been done relatively quietly in the Big Ten East division.
The Hoosiers come to town this weekend and it marks the first time in the nearly 120 year history of Ohio State vs. Indiana football games that the teams will face each other as top-ten opponents. The Hoosiers are right at No. 10 in the latest Amway Coaches Poll Powered by USA TODAY sports, and a spot higher (at No. 9) in the AP Poll.
Let’s get ready for the game of the century! Well… not quite… but you understand. At least we hope to be able to watch some football with a Scarlet and Gray hue to it this weekend as opposed to last Saturday.
According to a tweet from Joel Klatt, we now know when the potential top ten matchup between Ohio State and Indiana will take place.
We’re slowly getting the details of games on the 2020 Ohio State football schedule. The latest comes thanks to FOX College Football’s Joel Klatt who let it slip that the Buckeyes will host what is currently a top ten Indiana team at Noon two games from now.
OSUÂ travels to Maryland this weekend, then will be the FOX Big Noon Kickoff Game of the Week when the Hoosiers invade the banks of the Olentangy on November 21.
As long as IU can take care of business on the road against Michigan State this coming week, there will be some surprisingly high stakes on the line the week after. Justin Fields against Indiana’s Michael Penix should be an intriguing quarterback matchup to keep an eye on.
The winner, somewhat surprisingly in the Hoosiers’ case, might have the inside track to the Big Ten East division title.
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In a highly anticipated ranked Big Ten matchup, the 13th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers were able to beat the 23rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines 38…
In a highly anticipated ranked Big Ten matchup, the 13th-ranked Indiana Hoosiers were able to beat the 23rd-ranked Michigan Wolverines 38-21 in a dominant fashion.
The game was not close early, as the Hoosiers jumped out to a 24-7 lead at halftime. Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had an outstanding first-half performance of just over 250 yards and three passing touchdowns. Penix finished the day with 342 passing yards and three passing scores. Hoosier receiver Ty Fryfogle was on the receiving end of the outstanding first half from Penix and had 142 receiving yards and a touchdown in the game.
The first-half performance by the Hoosiers was dominant, and prevented Michigan, or quarterback Joe Milton, from getting any momentum other than the first-quarter touchdown pass to Cornelius Johnson. The Wolverines struggled to contain the offense of Indiana in the first half and were burned multiple times deep.
Nov 7, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Ty Fryfogle (3) caches a pass one handed against Michigan Wolverines defensive back Vincent Gray (4) during the first quarter of the game at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Michigan seemed like a new team coming out of halftime, led by a phenomenal second-half effort from receiver Ronnie Bell. The big plays from Bell and Milton brought the game within ten midway through the third quarter. Bell finished the game with 149 yards and a receiving touchdown, while Joe Milton had 344 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two costly interceptions.
The effort from Michigan proved not enough, as two rushing touchdowns from Hoosier running back Stevie Scott III in the second half and a late Joe Milton interception were able to cement Indiana’s victory over the Wolverines.
Nov 7, 2020; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) hands the ball off to Indiana Hoosiers running back Stevie Scott III (8) during the second half of the game at Memorial Stadium. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Michigan Wolverines 38 to 21. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Wisconsin is scheduled to play the Wolverines next weekend on Nov. 14 at the ‘Big House’, and will play the Hoosiers at home on Dec. 5. If Indiana can keep putting together wins against talented teams, they could be a real threat to Ohio State in the Big Ten East.
Indiana quarterback Michael Penix, Jr believes the Hooisers will “shock the world” against Ohio State this fall.
The Big Ten season is still a few weeks from kick-off, but that isn’t stopping opposing teams and players setting their sights on king of the B1G mountain.
In a recent interview, Indiana quarterback, Michael Penix Jr shared his excitement to play the big boys of the Big Ten. As he should be… this is the heart of competition, to measure oneself against the best.
However, Penix may have got caught up in the moment saying “I feel like we’re going to shock the world. I know we are.”
Indiana was a much-improved team last season, finishing 8-4 in the regular season before a one-point Gator Bowl loss to Tennessee. Penix played in six of those games, putting up respectable numbers, before sustaining a season-ending injury.
The Hoosiers should be a middle of the pack Big Ten team and could pull off an upset or two.
Michael Penix Jr. on the chance to play the Penn States, Ohio States, Michigans of the world (teams he missed the chance to play last year).
"I feel like we're going to shock the world. I know we are." #iufb
However, it would take a stumble of epic proportions for the Buckeyes to fall when Indiana comes to Columbus on November 21.
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Who are the best Big Ten quarterbacks heading into the 2020 season. We ranked them all from No. 1 through No. 14.
It’s the most important position in football these days — the quarterback. Gone are the days of trying to find a good game manager and surrounding that player with weapons. Yeah, there’s still some of that today, but the teams that tend to win conference championships and national titles generally have a dynamic playmaker under center and playmakers around him.
It’s no different in the Big Ten. Just look at the last few years. Ohio State has won three-straight conference championships, and each time, has also had a guy pulling the trigger that has won the Big Ten’s Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. J.T. Barrett won it in 2017, Dwayne Haskins followed up with the award in 2018, and then Justin Fields was honored last season.
So, with that in mind, what does the field (no pun intended) look like entering 2020? We’ve stack ranked all projected starting quarterbacks for all fourteen teams in the Big Ten and are ready to dive into all the fun.
As a bit of an asterisk, some of these are still entrenched in position battles, and there could be injuries and other things that impact what happens at each school, so please don’t dunk on us too hard.
The key to success on the football field often comes down to one simple variable: quarterback play….
The key to success on the football field often comes down to one simple variable: quarterback play.
The last 20 Heisman Trophy winners? 17 quarterbacks.
The last 10 national champions? Six teams that also had the nation’s best-performing quarterback at the time.
I wrote yesterday about Jack Coan‘s career and why he’s the best thing the Badgers have had at quarterback since Russell Wilson.
No, he’s not on the level of fellow Big Ten quarterbacks Justin Fields and Tanner Morgan. But Wisconsin is set to enter the 2020 season with the best option they’ve had at quarterback in years.
Football is still obviously an extremely-complex game, and there will be many variables that play into the Badgers’ success or lack thereof this year. Nevertheless, whether the team is able to win their first Big Ten championship since 2012 will come down in large part to how Coan performs compared to the opposing signal caller.
So, here are the top five quarterbacks the Badgers will face during the 2020 season:
Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) looks to pass during the first quarter against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Penix Jr. battled injuries a season ago but showed mile-high potential when he began the year by leading Indiana to their best start since 1993.
His 2019 season ended with six games played, 1394 passing yards, 69% completion, 8.8 adjusted passing yards per attempt (AY/A), 10 touchdowns and four interceptions in addition to 22 carries, 119 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Florida native is now healthy entering the 2020 season as he will work to improve upon his impressive showing from 2019 when he was healthy.
I give Coan the edge in this matchup as with a significantly-shortened offseason, or no live offseason at all, experience will be key at the position. Penix Jr. has a bright future but his 2020 outlook isn’t quite on the level as that of Coan.
