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(11/19/20 3:33pm)
Indiana football will play its first regular-season Top 10 matchup in school history on Saturday. The Hoosiers' only other Top 10 matchup was the 1967 Rose Bowl when No. 4 Indiana fell to O.J. Simpson and No. 1 Southern California.
IU’s game will have historical and brand significance. This does not mean Indiana fans should be anticipating a victory in Columbus.
This is not to diminish No. 9 Indiana's talent and remarkable season. The Hoosiers are having their best season since that 1967 year. The defense is elite. The offense has some of the best playmakers in the country. But the Hoosiers are not winning the national championship. The second-worst Power Five FBS program in history (only Wake Forest has a worse all-time winning percentage) has not won a bowl game since 1991. They are not ready to win a Big Ten Championship.
Ohio State has won three Big Ten Championships in a row. The Buckeyes were 23 yards away from defeating Clemson and playing in the National Championship last year. OSU won the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014.
The Buckeyes are a program on a different level than fellow powerhouses Michigan and Penn State. Michigan has not won a Big Ten Championship since 2004. Penn State has won one Big Ten Championship since 2008.
And that is not even considering the historic ineptitude of both programs this year. During the Urban Meyer and Ryan Day era Ohio State has thoroughly out-recruited, outplayed and out-achieved any other college football program north of the Ohio River.
This year the Buckeyes have 14 players who were five-star prospects on their roster. Only Georgia, Alabama and Clemson are also in double digits. Michigan has two five stars. Penn State has one.
Recruiting rankings are fickle but it’s just another reminder of the gap during the College Football Playoff era of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and everyone else. Occasionally a school puts everything together for a year to play with the big boys. LSU and Georgia in recent years. Notre Dame appears to be the school in 2020.
And no, Indiana is not putting together the magic of a 2019 LSU or even 2015 Michigan State. Maybe in five years. Counterpoint? Upsets happen every year. That is what makes college football great.
Let’s look at the recent upsets of the Buckeyes. Ohio State has two losses in the Big Ten since 2017. In 2018, the Buckeyes ran into the magic of Tyler Trent in West Lafayette. Purdue blew out Ohio State on a night bigger than sports:
(11/14/20 11:57pm)
Style points may count for the College Football Playoff committee. But not for Indiana head coach Tom Allen.
“Just really proud of our guys to come here. It's been a tough place to win over the years,” Allen said. “To get a shutout is pretty special.”
Indiana defeated Michigan State 24-0 Saturday on a cold afternoon in East Lansing to take back the Old Brass Spittoon for the first time since 2016. IU had not won in East Lansing since 2001.
For the third time in four games it was all about the defense for the Hoosiers. The IU defense forced four turnovers for a total of 12 forced turnovers this season.
In addition, Saturday was IU’s first non-Rutgers Big Ten shutout since 1993. But the IU effort was more of a suffocation than a mere shutout. In 12 possessions, Michigan State only twice had a drive of more than 25 yards.
“We talked about it all week, dominating this team,” IU linebacker Micah McFadden said. “I think
defense did a great job getting takeaways and giving opportunities to the offense to score.”
IU’s offense had 17 points off three turnovers. The only Hoosier score not off a turnover was a 65-yard touchdown pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Ty Fryfogle. That touchdown with five minutes left in the first half would end the game’s scoring. But Indiana had more than enough points thanks to their defense.
IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack had a simple gameplan to slow down an inconsistent Spartans attack: Remove Michigan State's struggling rushing attack and force them to throw the ball downfield. The plan worked to perfection.
Spartans starting quarterback Rocky Lombardi had two interceptions and was benched for backup Payton Thorne in the second quarter. Besides a 38-yard scramble on Thorne’s first play the redshirt-freshman was also not effective. IU’s defensive line was dominant and the linebacking corps led by McFadden was a constant in the backfield as the Spartans became one-dimensional trying to throw the ball downfield.
“We are getting better on the back end and front end,” McFadden said. “It’s just about everybody knowing each job and executing.”
It was full circle from last year’s game at Michigan State. The Hoosiers outplayed the Spartans in 2019 in the second half but could not finish. The defense gave up some key plays. IU fell 40-31.
Since then, IU is 9-2 in Big Ten games. The meaning was not lost on Hoosier players.
“Last year we left a lot on the field,” IU cornerback Tiawan Mullen said. “This year as a unit we talk, we play together as 11 strong and once everyone is together and heading in the right direction nothing can break.”
Last year, Allen made a fiery locker room speech after the tight loss to Michigan State about belief in his team.
“It was this loss in East Lansing a year ago that was the catalyst to really help this team realize if we can just stay the course we are going to figure this out,” Allen said.
Saturday the Hoosier defense believed in every ounce of its superiority over Michigan State. It completed the rise of an Indiana defense from the worst in the Big Ten five years ago to now one of the best in the conference.
However, next week is a major step up in competition. The Ohio State Buckeyes with Heisman candidate quarterback Justin Fields are an undisputed top offense in the country. IU has the playmakers and confidence but they will face a barrage of talent.
The Hoosiers have already defined the odds. Taking back the Old Brass Spittoon for just the second time in 12 years was another rewriting of the history books. Next Saturday in Columbus, an Indiana football win would throw the entire history book in the fire.
(11/11/20 10:24pm)
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This week on the HN Indiana Football podcast Griffin and Jack discuss IU's historic victory over Michigan. Plus Eric Bach from Michigan State's WDBM Sports joins the guys to breakdown the Old Brass Spittoon Game.
(11/03/20 6:58pm)
Indiana football is preparing for arguably its biggest game in over 25 years. But Tuesday, the team did not practice. Everyone had the day off.
On Sept. 16, the NCAA announced a mandatory off day on Election Day for all Division I athletes with no practice or competition allowed. IU’s athletic department had already previously announced it would give the day off to all Hoosier student-athletes.
Many of the players will be voting in their first presidential election. Voting can give them a voice.
“I feel it’s important just because it gives people the opportunity to express how they feel,” IU quarterback Michael Penix Jr. said. “Just being able to vote is giving everyone a chance to speak and voice an opinion on what is going on.”
Many Hoosier football players have already voted over the past month. The majority of IU players are from out of state and received absentee ballots that they have mailed in to their home states.
According to head coach Tom Allen a “handful” of players and coaches including himself were planning to vote on Election Day. Spearheaded by cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby and running backs coach Mike Hart, the team announced in early October they were 100% registered to vote. Allen expected that the entire team will have participated in the democratic process by the closing of polls on Tuesday.
“It’s critical, it’s a part of our democracy,” Allen said. “It’s a privilege and a responsibility to be a part of it. We want to challenge our guys to vote based on the principles they believe in.”
It will not make things easy for IU in a football sense. Instead of following routine with an off day on Sunday, the Hoosiers reviewed film and held meetings. It was a quick turnaround from a win over Rutgers and a late-night flight home from New Jersey. IU also practiced Monday night instead of Tuesday morning.
A disrupted schedule Tuesday is about more than voting. Allen views the day as an opportunity to have a discussion about issues important to the players.
On Monday night they discussed “the importance of understanding that we all have different opinions and different views,” Allen said. “And we respect that from each other.”
Allen is not just all talk. He is an active participant in rallying to support his players and the social justice movement. He marched with many of his players including wide receiver Whop Philyor at Bloomington’s “Enough is Enough” protest in early June after the death of George Floyd. A week earlier Allen had been one of the first Power 5 coaches to speak out supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Allen’s statement on Twitter on May 29 gained national attention.
(10/25/20 3:15pm)
Michael Penix dived towards the pylon. Every Indiana football collapse weighed on the back of the quarterback's 6-foot-3 frame. Lunging towards the pylon while an entire state held their breath.
It was a moment a long time in the making. Both in the story of Saturday's game and the story of Indiana football.
(10/23/20 4:10am)
The wait is over. Indiana football hosts No. 8 Penn State this Saturday at Memorial Stadium in the season opener.
IU is looking for a breakthrough win under Tom Allen. IU has defeated Penn State just once in 23 tries dating back to 1993. The lone victory was in 2013 by the Nate Sudfield-led Hoosiers in Memorial Stadium.
Furthermore, IU is searching for its first Top 25 victory since Kevin Wilson was head coach in 2016 and the Hoosiers knocked off No. 17 Michigan State.
In fact, the Hoosiers' last victory over an AP Top 10 team was in 1987 when Bill Mallory’s Hoosiers went to Columbus and thumped No. 9 Ohio State 31-10.
Will IU have a history-breaking, program-defining Saturday?
The answer stems from three plays in IU's 2019 loss to Penn State that perfectly illustrate how Indiana can defeat the Nittany Lions.
Limiting Sean Clifford's legs, especially on Third Down
As the pocket collapsed around Sean Clifford, the Penn State quarterback scrambled ahead towards the first down marker. Clifford reached the sticks before heading out of bounds for a key third-down conversion.
It was a memorable play in a nine-minute fourth-quarter drive in last year’s game against IU that ended with a Nittany Lion touchdown sealing the game. Clifford finished the game with 55 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
IU’s defense slowed down Penn State for much of that Saturday in Happy Valley but on the game’s biggest plays they could not get off the field. The Hoosier defense was just 7-for-16 on stopping Penn State on third and fourth downs.
Coming into this year’s game, IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has addressed Clifford's running ability on third down as a major focus. Furthermore, a talking point all offseason for the Hoosier defense to take the next step is getting off the field on third down. A more experienced and mature defense will be expected to have improved situational awareness on these plays.
Offensive line giving enough time and protection of Michael Penix
Peyton Ramsey stepped up in the pocket looking for a big play downfield last year in State College. Suddenly Penn State's Shaka Toney was there throwing IU's quarterback to the ground for a big fourth-quarter sack.
Penn State’s defensive line will be the strength of the Nittany Lion defense again this season. Toney is back for his senior season. And while fellow defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos is now playing on Sundays with the Carolina Panthers, Jayson Oweh is the next Nittany Lion defensive lineman who has the attention of NFL scouts.
Saturday will be a big challenge for the IU offensive line. Starters Simon Stepaniak and Hunter Littlejohn both graduated. Now a young Hoosier offensive line will face one of the most talented defensive lines in the country.
The good news for the Hoosiers is they have the skill players to exploit Penn State’s secondary. They will need the offensive line to give Michael Penix enough time to get the ball to those weapons.
Furthermore, Penix needs to be protected. The redshirt-sophomore quarterback will be trying to complete a college season for the first time in his college career. A collapsing pocket forcing Penix to run or take hits is dangerous for the injury-prone quarterback. Against a potent Nittany Lions defensive line Penix will need help from the trenches to keep him and the IU offense afloat.
Avoiding big second-half mistakes
Fourth and one at midfield and IU had a strange formation for a third-quarter punt in State College. The snap went to Peyton Hendershot who was quickly swallowed up by a pack of Nittany Lions. Turnover on downs. Penn State would score a touchdown to go up by 10 two plays later. The botched punt would endure mockery on Twitter.
Time and time again in the Tom Allen and Kevin Wilson eras, the Hoosiers have found every imaginable way to blow chances at signature-program changing victories. For the first time under Allen, IU has the talent and experience to compete on a level playing field with most teams in the country.
Last year IU actually outgained Penn State by 90 yards. Penalties, botched plays, mental mistakes, poor clock management and special teams gaffes — Hoosiers fans are tired of seeing them. IU does not have excuses for these boneheaded mistakes this season.
If IU can execute and stay disciplined in a close fourth quarter, the Hoosiers could pull off a historic victory on Saturday.
(10/07/20 3:38am)
Leadership, versatility and talent. IU football lost these skills when redshirt senior husky Marcelino Ball tore his ACL during practice last week. Tom Allen announced that Ball will be out for the season.
Ball was expected to start at IU's hybrid safety-linebacker position for the third straight year. Instead, the injury will challenge the Hoosiers' depth at a key position on defense.
“You lose a guy like Marcelino, it's not just production on the field,” Allen said. “It’s locker room, weight room, film study, practice and all the different things off the field. He was so locked in, and we were so excited for him to have a great season.”
As the incumbent starter, Ball handled duties at arguably the most important position on defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s 3-2-5 defense. His production will be difficult to replicate.
Last season, Ball tallied two sacks and a team-high six quarterback hurries. Gifted with a rare ability to disrupt the run and rush the passer at a high level, while also dropping back in coverage in certain schemes, Ball's presence was felt on nearly ever snap. Those rare abilities put Ball on The Athletic’s "college football Freaks List" for a second straight season.
However, his on-field presence wasn't the only reason Allen was emotional when announcing Ball's injury. The leadership and impact off the field will be sorely missed as Ball developed into a vocal and emotional leader on a young Hoosier defense.
"He's matured so much as a young man," Allen said. "He'll handle this the right way and we wish him nothing but the best."
In August, Ball said the IU defense had already “broken the gap” and was ready to be a next-level defense. Now, many of the Hoosiers he mentored will attempt to fill his role.
Allen has already tabbed one of those Hoosiers, Bryant Fitzgerald, as the starter. Though the junior has started only one game at husky in his career, his similar build and size to Ball makes him an ideal replacement. Last season, Fitzgerald started five games at free safety and tallied 27 tackles and three pass breakups.
"There's certain packages that we will tweak and certain packages that will stay," Wommack said. "I think Fitzgerald is doing a really good job at husky. He got experience back there playing free safety."
D.K. Bonhomme will back up Fitzgerald at husky, Allen said. The sophomore linebacker primarily saw action on special teams last year, but his raw skills have IU coaches excited about his potential. Sophomore defensive back Noah Pierre and junior safety Jamar Johnson, a backup at husky last season, are also options to see time behind Fitzgerald and Bonhomme.
"I feel like we got the depth to rotate different guys there," Allen said. "Other guys got to rise up and that's the reality every year."
The IU football program always has numerous challenges. In an especially odd and difficult season, Ball’s injury adds to what is sure to be a wild ride for the Hoosiers.
(09/16/20 2:19pm)
A roller coaster. That’s the ride the Big Ten has been on over the past few months among the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Big Ten announced Wednesday morning that the conference's Council of Presidents and Chancellors voted unanimously to resume a football season starting the weekend of Oct. 23. The season schedule has not been officially announced, and announcements regarding other fall sports are expected soon.
The conference postponed the fall sports season on Aug. 11. So, how did we get here a month later, and what comes next? We try to answer several key questions.
Why did the Big Ten change its decision?
First of all, testing. University of Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank told Congress on Tuesday morning that the Big Ten postponed their season due to a lack of testing and contact tracing and concerns over myocarditis, a serious and potentially fatal heart disease.
However, testing capacity has improved across the Big Ten and country in the past month, and as of Wednesday morning, the conference announced that daily rapid antigen testing — perhaps the biggest X-factor at play here — will begin by Sept. 30.
The Pac-12 announced earlier this month a partnership with COVID-19 testing provider Quindel that will allow for daily rapid testing of athletes. Quicker and more widespread testing will make contact tracing significantly easier for schools. This would prevent just a few positive tests from shutting down a whole football team for a couple weeks, as has been seen at multiple schools including Virginia Tech and TCU. This is especially important for the Big Ten in potentially playing eight games in nine weeks.
What will Indiana’s schedule look like?
The Big Ten is expected to keep a similar schedule to the proposed conference-only schedule on Aug. 5. Each team will play eight games with no bye week, and the conference title game will be Dec. 19.
Indiana would likely lose a pair of cross-division games from its initial 10-game schedule, which includes trips to Wisconsin and Minnesota and a home date against Illinois. If the dates were not dramatically changed, IU would either open at Wisconsin or host Penn State in Bloomington.
What we do know is that Indiana will have one of the more difficult schedules in the country. Three or four of its eight games will be against teams in the top 16 of the AP Preseason Poll. NCAA rules state that a team must finish with a winning percentage of .500 or above to qualify for a bowl game.
Has myocarditis been addressed? Is the pandemic improving?
Not really...that is, until Wednesday morning. Wednesday's announcement notes the implementation of "enhanced cardiac screening," as all COVID-19 positive student-athletes will undergo comprehensive testing. Following evaluation, student-athletes will need clearance from a university-designated cardiologist before being able to return to play.
In August, a study by Ohio State sports cardiologist Curt Daniels found that close to 15% of college athletes who had COVID-19 had myocarditis. However, Daniels on Friday said his study had been misconstrued as he used a small sample size of just 26 athletes at Ohio State — four were found to have myocarditis.
That research — along with Indiana offensive lineman Brady Feeney being sent to the emergency room with breathing problems after contracting COVID-19 — were chief worries for Big Ten presidents. In addition, other athletes such as Utah Jazz basketball player Rudy Gobert have reported long-term health effects from the virus.
On the other hand, there have been no reported deaths from college athletes and the overall mortality rate is 0.5% for all 18-29 year olds in the United States according to the CDC’s website.
While concerns remain about the disease’s long-term effects, case numbers have actually gotten worse over the past month in many parts of the Midwest. Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa have seen their highest number of positive cases over a one-week period in September.
There was always going to be risk with playing a football season. Long-term effects of COVID-19 are still unclear but that was not enough risk today for Big Ten presidents to continue not playing football.
Did pressure play into the decision?
Certainly. As soon as the Big Ten announced its postponement, Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren and the university presidents and chancellors were portrayed across much of the country as the Grinch who stole Christmas, or, in this case, football.
First, Nebraska administration and head coach Scott Frost threatened to leave the Big Ten. President Donald Trump called Warren. And most importantly the SEC, ACC and Big 12 started playing football and other fall sports.
It is unlikely that the Nebraska players’ lawsuit, parents rallying outside Big Ten headquarters or Trump's tweets were deciding factors, but they were a PR mess for the Big Ten. That, combined with only the Pac-12 following the Big Ten's lead, made a PR nightmare of cataclysmic proportions. Over the past two weeks, Big Ten presidents have seen that despite some hiccups and cancellations, the ACC and Big 12 have been able to get on the field. Along with all the money that comes with college football, there was immense pressure on the 14 Big Ten presidents and chancellors to change course.
Will this work? Can the Big Ten complete a season?
Maybe. The way things have gone for the Big Ten over the past few months it is not hard to fathom a plethora of positive tests across multiple Big Ten teams stopping the season before it gets started.
The ACC announced last weekend they will need a minimum of eight teams to complete a college football season. Numerous delays and cancellations of games has made some officials uncertain that their season will finish.
Big Ten football is back for now. In the horrifying amusement park that is 2020, it is impossible to forecast which direction our collective roller coaster will plunge next.
(08/10/20 5:34pm)
Fall’s greatest tradition. Tailgating under colorful leaves. The buzz of campus on a gameday Saturday morning. And even the crush of pads under the Memorial Stadium lights. All gone.
The cataclysmic year of 2020 leveled a painful blow to college football fans today as Big Ten university presidents voted to postpone all fall Big Ten sports including college football. The initial report from the Detroit Free Press cites continuing health concerns due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic that has shown little sign of improving. Should this hold up, the Big Ten becomes the first Power Five conference to cancel fall football.
How does this impact Indiana football and college athletics as a whole? We try to answer some of the burning questions.
(08/09/20 8:22pm)
Kane Wommack's 4-2-5 defense was young and inconsistent last year. The secondary was no exception.
The good news? Indiana’s defense ranks 13th in the nation and first in the Big Ten in returning production according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly. That includes nearly the entire secondary.
Leaders of the group
Cornerback
IU’s secondary starts with cornerback Tiawan Mullen. The true sophomore broke out at Michigan State last season with four pass breakups. By the season’s midway point he had risen to the top of the depth chart as IU’s top cover corner. Mullen was named a first-team Freshman All-American by both The Athletic and 247Sports.
Mullen is notable for his athleticism, tied 11th in the country in pass breakups in 2019, but his lockdown cover skills that can take an opposing wide receiver out of the game are most valuable. This was notable multiple times last year including Mullen limiting Tennessee’s star wide receiver Jauan Jennings to just two catches in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
Mullen, the brother of former Clemson and current Las Vegas Raider cornerback Trayvon Mullen, will be firmly entrenched as the top cornerback for the Hoosiers. Nonetheless, keeping “Mullen island” safe will not be easy in 2020. Out of the current nine opponents on the Hoosiers schedule, four teams have a receiver on the Biletnikoff preseason award watch list.
Opposite Mullen at cornerback will likely be Reese Taylor or Jaylin Williams. Both juniors, Williams started seven of the final eight games last season for IU. He blossomed late in the year with 19 tackles though his cover skills will need to continue to improve.
Taylor will challenge for the starting role. The upside is high for the Indianapolis native. The 2017 Indiana Mr. Football led Ben Davis High School to a state championship as a quarterback. As a freshman at IU, Taylor primarily saw action on the offensive side of the ball as a running back and wide receiver. He switched full time to defense during 2019 spring practice.
Taylor was injury prone last season but with a year at cornerback under his belt, his athletic skills will garner him time in IU’s secondary. Indiana cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby said, “I think he’s ready to take that step and I’m expecting him to.”
Outside of the trio of Mullen, Williams and Taylor at cornerback, Josh Sanguinetti is the most intriguing name. Running into injury he had to redshirt the 2019 season. However, Sanguinetti was a big time recruiting pick-up as a four star recruit out of southern Florida.
Safety
At safety, Khalil Bryant’s graduation leaves a big hole. Wommack has shuffled players into the safety position in hope of improving the group’s cover skills.
Jamar Johnson is one of those shuffled players rotating over from the husky position. He originally played safety his freshman year. Now the speedy junior will likely start at free safety replacing Bryant. Johnson should be well acclimated to covering the open field, as he had two interceptions last year including a memorable pick six against Tennessee at the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl.
At strong safety Devon Matthews and Juwan Burgess will compete for the starting role. Matthews started the first five games of the 2019 season and the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl while Burgess started the last seven games of the regular season.
Matthews' size and physicality might give him an edge going into fall camp. The junior was nicknamed “monster” after knocking off a quarterback’s helmet on a sack as an eight year old. He has grown into a full sized monster since, now filling out an imposing 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame.
Burgess is a smaller versatile player who filled the stat sheet last season with 29 tackles, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. This versatility could have the redshirt junior also seeing time at free safety.
Raheem Layne, who shifts from cornerback, could see time at either safety position. The senior has plenty of experience with 37 game appearances. He also was IU’s 2019 Special Teams Player of the Year for kickoff and punt coverage. First year safeties coach Jason Jones should be able to plug in Layne whenever and wherever needed.
Husky
Lastly, the husky position will be filled by Marcelino Ball. The fifth-year senior has started at husky for 23 of IU’s last 25 games. The position is one of the more distinctive in football. Functioning as a hybrid safety and linebacker, Ball will be tasked with covering both the run and pass. In addition, Wommack has emphasized for the upcoming season to get Ball closer to the box to check or pressure the quarterback.
His “rare physical abilities” garnered him a spot on The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman’s 2020 college football freaks list. In addition, Ball’s high football IQ and experience will have him as the centerpiece cog of the Indiana defense.
Bryant Fitzgerald shifts from safety to back up Ball at husky. He had a breakout freshman season with six takeaways to be named IU’s most outstanding defensive back in 2018 but had a quieter 2019. Following a theme of IU’s secondary, Fitzgerald’s versatility will have him appear wherever in the secondary he is needed.
Players who could take the next step
Other Hoosiers down the depth chart that could see action include redshirt freshman cornerback Larry Tracy III and a pair of redshirt sophomore safeties Noah Pierre and Jordan Jusevitch.
The Big Ten East has arguably the most talented crop of gun slinging quarterbacks and wide receivers in the country. Facing that skill, Indiana’s defense made some strides last year.
Now a secondary with talent, versatility and loads of experience has a chance to help the Hoosier defense take the next step forward.