Saturday will mark the first time that Indiana Hoosier fans have seen their Hoosiers play at home with a ranking in front of their name since 1993, and that means a few things.
For one, you can probably say that Indiana is one of the biggest “Cinderella” stories in college football right now.
They’re off to a 6-0 start, ranked #16 in the country, and if you wipe out the start of this season, the Hoosiers have won nine games in the last three seasons combined.
It also should be said that this Saturdays game should provide one of the craziest atmospheres that stadium has seen in a long time.
Big Ten road games are never easy, especially when you have to play a juiced up program that has not been able to be stopped at all this season.
But there should be reason for confidence for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who last beat previously undefeated Rutgers 14-7, before a bye week this last Saturday.
Nebraska is far and away the most physical team that Indiana has seen all year, and they’ve done a good job at protecting the football.
This will be the second game of the season the Huskers have played against a ranked opponent, and this one is a far more important than the Illinois matchup.
The path doesn’t get easier for the Huskers, who have key road games at #4 Ohio State, USC and Iowa the rest of the way, so a ranked road win would mean a lot for this Nebraska program.
Expect a Shootout:
31 points is the lowest that Indiana’s offense has scored all season long, and it was in their season opener.
40 points is the most points that Nebraska’s offense has scored all season long, also in their own season opener.
Nebraska’s offense hasn’t looked quite as we all expected it to so far this season, and this Saturday might require a breakout performance from the Huskers.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti is an offensive mastermind, and he his team averaging 47.5 points a game, second in the country behind Miami.
Dylan Raiola and this Nebraska offense have to be ready and locked in early for this football game.
Nebraska simply can not afford to come out on the road, and get shutout in the first half like they did against Purdue, and if they do, it could be a long day for the Huskers.
Special Teams:
After winning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after a dominant performance against Rutgers, Nebraska punter Brian Buschini earned a Blackshirt from coach Rhule.
It can not go unnoticed that Buschini had two of his punts blocked against Rutgers, one of them noticeably injuring Buschini.
Cignetti and Indiana could see this and attempt to steal momentum early in this game if Nebraska isn’t careful.
Even in the return game, a big play on special teams could make or break this game.
We have yet to see a big punt or kickoff return by Nebraska this season, those are big, momentum swinging plays that will only open up opportunities for the Huskers offense.
Tony White:
Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke has appeared in 42 career games, totaling over 9,400 passing yards so far during his time at Ohio and Indiana, he has seen a lot of defenses.
One of the biggest keys to success against Rourke and the Hoosiers offense this Saturday, is what different looks and blitz packages can Nebraska defensive coordinator Tony White throw at Rourke?
White’s 3-3-5 defense gives Nebraska the opportunity to blitz from wherever and blitz whoever, and with Tommi Hill most likely returning this week, there is a big opportunity to schematically confuse Indiana.
Sophomore cornerback Ceyair Wright has simply been amazing this season. Heading into the bye week, Wright was the third highest graded cornerback in the Big Ten.
If Hill and Wright can be on the field at the same time consistently , that is a huge benefit for the Blackshirts.
Lockdown coverage from both sides of the field will be needed, and Wright and Hill can provide that.
That gives this interior rush from the Blackshirts defensive line, more sack opportunities for a team who’s already had 20 of them this season.
Prediction:
It may not be a popular opinion, but I think Nebraska comes out and completely shocks everyone who has eyes on this game.
Raiola and this offense have been waiting to breakout, and I think that happens this Saturday in Bloomington behind a big crowd of Husker fans.
Indiana has not been tested yet to this season, and they have not, and maybe will not play a defense as good as Nebraska’s is this season.
A lot of emphasis should be put on the atmosphere of this for Nebraska. FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff announced that their pregame show would be at Indiana for this game, as it’s the highlight game of the week for the network.
Be ready to handle the noise, and attempt to quiet down the crowd as best as you can.
Nebraska: 28 Indiana: 20
