For just the second time during Nebraska’s tenure with the Big Ten, the Huskers will be traveling to Bloomington, Indiana to face off with the #16th ranked Hoosiers.
Indiana will come into this game undefeated, currently sitting with a 6-0 mark. It’s their best start in nearly 60 years, and with increased success comes a brighter spotlight; the game slated for Big Noon Kickoff on Fox. Some of the biggest names in the sports commentary world will be in attendance— Urban Meyer, Joel Klatt, Gus Johnson. The eyes of the college football world will all be on Nebraska/Indiana come 11 AM Central Time for a game that has major playoff implications.
Nebraska is 0-24 in their last 24 games against ranked opponents, and a win against Indiana could not only snap that dreaded streak but also secure a bowl game for the first time in 8 years. Huskers head coach Matt Rhule was asked what it could mean for the program to end the bowl drought, and his response was clear and simple. “I’m just focused on the game. I answered that question last year and never got there,” Rhule said.
It’s the 1 game at a time mentality that has the Huskers in the position they are in now, and while it would be relieving to get that monkey off the back of the program, the team has bigger goals than a 6 win season.
There are 3 teams in the country that are currently top 10 in offense and defense. Texas, Tennessee, and the Indiana Hoosiers. Indiana’s offense is 2nd in the country in scoring at 47.5 points per game and 4th in the country in total yards at 515.7 yards per game. Paired with a defense who’s only allowing 14 points to their opponents, and Indiana has themselves a well rounded football team. The only knock thus far on this Hoosiers team is their strength of schedule where they are currently coming in at 71st. Nebraska will far and away be their biggest challenge to date, but the same could be said of Indiana for the Huskers.
For Nebraska, it will be important to note how Dylan Raiola responds coming off his first sub par performance of the season against Rutgers. Raiola went 13/27 with 134 yards and an interception. It was a windy day in Memorial Stadium and a game where passing was hard to come by for both quarterbacks. Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis went 15/37 with 186 yards and two interceptions. Regardless of conditions, Raiola will need to be improved for Nebraska to have a good shot against Indiana.
On defense, Nebraska will hopefully be returning starting corner Tommi Hill who has been out in recent weeks as he’s been dealing with heel pain from plantar fasciitis. With the excellent play Ceyair Wright has displayed in Hill’s absence, having that duo together could be an added bonus to this already strong Blackshirts secondary.
Indiana has yet to face a defensive front that can affect the game in the way Nebraska has proved to do so far. 6 games into the season and the Huskers defense has yet to allow a single rushing touchdown from its opposition, but it’s not just the run stop that has been elite up front. The Blackshirts are getting to the quarterback in the passing game at an impressive clip, totaling 20 sacks up to this point. Indiana’s offensive line has only allowed 5 sacks through their first 6 games. If edge rusher James Williams and the rest of the defensive line can continue to wreak havoc in the backfield, Indiana may find themselves in uncharted territory.
The Cornhuskers will be underdogs for the first time this year, and Indiana will be the team feeling the heat at home. If the Blackshirts start out with a high degree of tenacity and composure, Dylan Raiola will have the opportunity to bounce back with confidence on the offensive side of the ball, and maybe, if the cards fall right, we’ll hear a patented Gus Johnson call on a deep ball from Raiola to Jacorey Barney Jr. “Watch out, folks! True freshman to true freshman! Wow!”
Score Prediction: 21-13, Nebraska brings home the bacon.