Indiana Football Podcast: Nebraska or Bust
This week on the Podcast, Grif and Matt review the Maryland game as well as look towards Nebraska and how IU could pick up win number 6 on the year and become bowl eligible before November.
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This week on the Podcast, Grif and Matt review the Maryland game as well as look towards Nebraska and how IU could pick up win number 6 on the year and become bowl eligible before November.
They called it "Beat Indiana" week in College Park, and The Hoosier Network was there to see it all through. Between Indiana soccer's 3-0 defeat to Maryland, and a thrilling win Saturday to push Indiana football to five wins on the year, it was quite the weekend on the East Coast. Grif, Matt, Connor and Jared took to the ground in Washington, D.C.
14. Rutgers (1-6) Last Week: 42-7 Loss vs. Minnesota This Week: vs. Liberty (Noon on BTN) Another week, another Rutgers loss. They scheduled Liberty in the middle of the year in hopes of getting one more win. We will see if they can pull it off. 13. Northwestern (1-5) Last Week: 52-3 Loss vs. Ohio State This Week: vs. Iowa (Noon on ESPN 2) OK, I officially feel bad for Northwestern. Not only are the Wildcats 1-5 but they have had absolutely no breaks. Their extremely rigorous schedule has not been very forgiving. Buckle up, this one may get worse before it gets better. 12. Purdue (2-5) Last Week: 26-20 Loss @ Iowa This Week: vs. Illinois (Noon on BTN) Purdue impressed many with the way it competed with Iowa but at the end of the day, a loss is, very much, still a loss. Jeff Brohm seems to be getting ready to turn things around again. We will see if he can finish the job. 10. Maryland (3-4) Last Week: 34-28 Loss to Indiana This Week: @ Minnesota (3:30 p.m. on ESPN) Well, Maryland really needed a win against Indiana to get back to being the competitive program that they would like to be this season. However, a close loss there will not help them inch any closer to a bowl. This week, it gets even tougher. A road game in Minnesota won't be easy on the Turtle. 10. Illinois (3-4) Last Week: 24-23 Win vs. Wisconsin This Week: @ Purdue (Noon on BTN) Illinois scored the biggest upset of the year out of absolutely nowhere. Seriously, who was guessing that one? A win against Wisconsin gives the Illini a huge bump in polls and gives Lovie Smith and the Illini hope for what may be a bowl season. 9. Nebraska (4-3) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs. Indiana (3:30 pm on BTN) Nebraska has had such a high and low year and frankly has been rather unimpressive in Scott Frost's second year with the program. This week against Indiana should be rather telling for both squads as to where each other are at. 8. Indiana (5-2) Last Week: 34-28 Win @ Maryland This Week: at Nebraska (3:30 p.m. on BTN) It wasn't Indiana's prettiest win, but, by golly, a win is a win, and Indiana found a way to get it done in Maryland this past week. The Hoosiers have arguably their biggest road game of the year at Nebraska this week and a win there could make the Hoosiers a legitimate team in the Big Ten East. 7. Michigan State (4-3) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs. Penn State (3:30 p.m. on ABC) I would say that Michigan State easily has one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten with no easy wins or convenient bye weeks. However, coming off a bye week may make Sparty more ready for this upcoming matchup against the Nittany Lions. Penn State and Ohio State are due for an upset. Could it happen in East Lansing? 6. Minnesota (7-0) Last Week: 42-7 WIN vs. Rutgers This Week: vs. Maryland (3:30 p.m. on ESPN) OK, I was not buying the Minnesota hype, but now, I can't get enough of it. This was a team that could barely beat Georgia Southern in the beginning of the year. Their confidence has only grown and so has their play level. This week, the Gophers will face off against a struggling Maryland squad as they attempt to go 8-0. 5. Iowa (5-2) Last Week: 26-20 win against This Week: @ Northwestern (Noon on ESPN2) Iowa stands at 5-2 and is in its yearly "are they over-ranked or under-ranked?" situation. In order to feel good going the rest of the way, Iowa needs to rack up a ton of wins. That starts with this week against Northwestern. Wildcats are already struggling to a point of no return so it should be an easy win for the Hawkeyes. 4. Michigan (5-2) Last Week: 28-21 Loss @ Penn State This Week: vs. Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. on ABC) Michigan couldn't beat Penn State but did do a solid job of competing with Penn State. However, the Wolverines will return to the Big House this week for a matchup against a strong Notre Dame squad. Now I'm by no means implying that Michigan will upset the Irish but Brian Kelly might be the one coach worse than Jim Harbaugh at playing ranked opponents. I fully expect this to be one of the best games of the week and I wouldn't be surprised if the Wolverines were able to pull off the upset. 3. Wisconsin (6-1) Last Week: 24-23 loss @ Illinois This Week: @ Ohio State (Noon on FOX) Man. That one is going to stink for the Badgers for a long time. That was such a winnable game and the Badgers could not escape with a win. Their season is by no means a wash. Wisconsin can still prove itself to be one of the best four teams in the nation but that would require wins against Minnesota, Ohio State, and possibly Penn State. It is a tall order, but by no means too much to ask for. 2. Penn State (7-0) Last Week: 28-21 win vs. Michigan This Week: @ Michigan State (3:30 p.m. on ABC) This week could hold a major upset in East Lansing. Michigan State is coming off fresh from a bye week and desperately needs a win to turn their season back around and they match up extremely well with that of Penn State. The toughest stretch of the season for James Franklin comes in the next four weeks as he will be playing against four opponents who are most likely going bowling this season and two of whom are ranked. I doubt they get out of it undefeated but it isn't totally out of the question. 1. Ohio State (7-0) Last Week: 52-3 Win @ Northwestern This Week: vs. Wisconsin (Noon on FOX) Not much explaining needed here. Ohio State is a team of men playing amongst boys and it is showing up every week on scoreboards across the Big Ten. This week poses the Buckeyes' biggest threat yet against a Wisconsin team that is going to be hungry coming off its first loss of the year. This has the potential to be the best matchup of the year.
Indiana very well could've had its strongest defensive performance of the year last weekend against Rutgers in Bloomington. How does it all carry over this Saturday at Maryland? Griffin Gonzalez, Matt Cohen, and Jared Rigdon get you set for this weekend's matchup with the Terps, a game that can only be described as the Cohen Bowl. The Hoosier Network is on the scene this weekend in College Park, as Indiana Soccer faces the Terps Friday night at Ludwig Field, followed by Saturday's game at Capital One Field. Follow along @TheHoosierNet on Twitter and online at TheHoosierNetwork.com.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/694360039" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] Join Grif and Matt as they break down the latest in IUFB news as the Hoosiers look for another win this Saturday against The Rutgers.
14. Rutgers (1-3) Last Week: 48-7 LOSS vs. Maryland This Week: at Indiana (Noon, BTN) Still not good at the whole football thing? Yup. Next. 13. Illinois (2-3) Last Week: 40-17 LOSS at Minnesota This Week: vs. Michigan (Noon, ABC) Illinois had been rather impressive up to this point in the season. All they really had to do was compete with Minnesota on the road and I would've moved them up in the power rankings. However, a big loss to the Gophers keeps the Illini where they are supposed to be, at 13th place. 12. Purdue (1-4) Last Week: 35-7 LOSS at Penn State This Week: vs. Maryland (Noon, BTN) I think alarm bells are starting to ring in West Lafayette. I know Purdue has had a tough stretch with ongoing injuries and naturally tough scheduling but eventually, the excuses pile up. Purdue desperately needs a win against Maryland this weekend to get the doubters back on their side. 11. Northwestern (1-4) Last Week: 13-10 LOSS at Nebraska This Week: BYE Northwestern is not the same team they were last year. They are much worse. Northwestern's schedule doesn't get much easier. A bye week this week is immediately followed by an Ohio State matchup immediately followed by Iowa. Safe to say this season is not going to be good for the Wildcats. 10. Maryland (3-2) Last Week: 48-7 WIN at Rutgers This Week: at Purdue (Noon, BTN) Maryland had the solid bounce-back win they needed after getting routed by Penn State. However, there is still work to be done. Maryland's biggest advantage is its ease of scheduling. If they can find a way to win the winnable games late, the Terrapins may be in a bowl game. 9. Minnesota (5-0) Last Week: 40-17 WIN vs. Illinois This Week: vs. Nebraska (7:30 PM, FS1) Minnesota is in the top 25 this week, yes, but let's not get too crazy here. They beat Illinois, you know, the team that is one ranking above Rutgers? Frankly, the Gophers have had, by far, the easiest schedule in Big Ten play. This week against Nebraska should be very telling of how good the Gophers really are. 8. Indiana (3-2) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs. Rutgers (Noon, BTN) This is a huge one for Indiana. If the Hoosiers can find a way to win this one by a big margin, Indiana could have quite a momentum boost for the upcoming 3 weeks that carry all winnable games with Maryland, Northwestern and Nebraska. I'm not saying that Indiana can go undefeated over the next four weeks, but for the first time in a long time it isn't out of the question. 7. Nebraska (4-2) Last Week: 13-10 WIN vs. Northwestern This Week: at Minnesota (7:30, FS1) Nebraska really needed a win over Northwestern to gain some trust back in the Big Ten and they did just that against Northwestern's stagnant defense. A huge test this week against Minnesota should really tell us what we need to know about Nebraska. 6. Michigan State (4-2) Last Week: 34-10 LOSS at Ohio State This Week: at Wisconsin (3:30, BTN) I was actually pretty impressed with Sparty's performance at Ohio State. Yes, they still lost but they put up a better fight than most of the Buckeyes opponents so far this season. I still think this Michigan State team is solid in a lot of areas and could compete with anyone in this conference. This week may be the Spartans biggest challenge yet. If they can only lost to Wisconsin by a small margin, they may move up despite the loss. 5. Iowa (4-0) Last Week: 10-3 LOSS at Michigan This Week: vs. Penn State (7:30, ABC) This is a huge week for Iowa. Yes, they lost to a struggling Wolverine team last week. But if they can find a way to upset Penn State at home this week, the Hawkeyes may be in for a big-time jump in the rankings. However, on the other side, if they get blown out, we may have believed too much of the hype on the Hawkeyes. 4. Michigan (4-1) Last Week: 10-3 WIN vs. Iowa This Week: at Illinois (Noon, ABC) Wow. Michigan actually beat a ranked team. That is big time. But let's not get carried away here. In order for Michigan to be where they want to be (college football playoff contention) they would need to finish undefeated and beat Ohio State. There is still work to be done, but Michigan deserves to move up one spot in this week's power rankings. 3. Penn State (5-0) Last Week: 35-7 WIN vs. Purdue This Week: at Iowa (7:30, ABC) Penn State is arguably the most interesting team in the Big Ten. Their 5-0 record has no wins against any impossible teams, but that could change this week with their matchup against Iowa. A big win against the Hawkeyes could push Penn State over the top and put them in a 3-way race for the Big Ten with Wisconsin and Ohio State. 2. Wisconsin (5-0) Last Week: 48-0 WIN vs. Kent State This Week: vs. Michigan State (3:30, BTN) Wisconsin has been the most dominant team in the Big Ten behind Ohio State. While the Buckeyes outrank the Badgers in pure recruits and all-around talent, Wisconsin plays with a high football IQ. Wisconsin should beat up on Sparty this weekend setting up the biggest matchup of the year between Wisconsin and Ohio State. 1. Ohio State (5-0) Last Week: 34-10 WIN vs. Michigan State This Week: BYE As if they really need a bye week: The Buckeyes are playing truly dominant football. Ohio State has dominated every opponent this season and the foot is not coming off the gas anytime soon. After the bye week, the Buckeyes have a road trip against Northwestern before returning home to face off against Wisconsin in what could be the biggest game of the Big Ten conference slate.
Unsurprisingly, Michigan State fans claim their tailgates are the best, not only in the Big Ten, but possibly in the country. For the first time in Tailgate Talks history, the show gets taken on the road. Before Indiana battled the Spartans, Griffin Gonzalez took to the streets to discover just what tailgating in Spartyland is all about.
14. Rutgers (1-3) Last Week: 52-0 LOSS at Michigan This Week: vs. Maryland, Noon on BTN When you lose to a team so badly that your coach gets fired, usually things aren't going well. The Rutgers football program is riding the struggle bus right now. Actually no, the Knights are driving the struggle bus. The bus actually has a giant scarlet-colored letter 'R' on the side with a poster that reads "Three wins or bust!" on the back. Bottom line: This team is bad, and the rest of the season is going to be pretty embarrassing. See you next year. 13. Illinois (2-2) Last Week: BYE This Week: at Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. on BTN Last time out, Illinois competed against what was believed to be a solid Nebraska team. After the Nebraska-Ohio State game, Illinois still isn't looking great. This week should be extremely telling as both Minnesota and Illinois have massive amounts of potential with little to show for it. A win on the road against the Gophers may move Illinois up in the rankings. 12. Purdue (1-3) Last Week: 38-31 LOSS vs. Minnesota This Week: at Penn State, Noon on ESPN Listen, I know Purdue fans are playing the "I'm not worried" card because this is the second straight year with a 1-3 start for the Boilers and last year and they made it to a bowl. However, this year is different. You still have to play Penn State, Iowa, and Wisconsin on the road. None of those look winnable. Then Purdue has the other five remaining games against all up-and-coming teams that won't come easy. They need all five of those to be bowl-eligible. Long story short: last year, Purdue's schedule benefitted the team. This year it does not. 11. Maryland (2-2) Last Week: 59-0 LOSS vs. Penn State This Week: at Rutgers, Noon on BTN Are we all off the Maryland hype train now? Obviously the Terrapins started the season off in fantastic fashion. However, all the fire from the hot start has turned to ice and the Terrapins look terrible because of it. A 59-0 loss to Penn State moved them far down the rankings and now the rest of this season is a question mark in terms of how this team will compete in the Big Ten. We will see, but for now, Maryland is at 11. 10. Minnesota (4-0) Last Week: 38-31 WIN at Purdue This Week: vs. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. on BTN Minnesota had to make a statement with a win over Purdue and it did. It is never easy to beat someone on the road, and Minnesota owned that game the entire time. Now the Gophers find themselves as one of the last teams in the nation to remain undefeated as they welcome Illinois to Minneapolis. 9. Northwestern (1-3) Last Week: 24-15 LOSS at Wisconsin This Week: at Nebraska, 4 p.m. on FOX Northwestern fell this past week, but the Wildcats definitely put up a fight. After Michigan fell by a large margin two weeks ago, many figured Northwestern had no chance against the Badgers. However, the Wildcats held their own. I still think Northwestern has some fight left, so I am not going to write the Wildcats off quite just yet. 8. Indiana (3-2) Last Week: 40-31 LOSS at Michigan State This Week: BYE The scoreboard doesn't tell the full story of this one. There was a last-second fumble returned for a touchdown which resulted in an additional six points for the Spartans, but in reality, this was a 3-point loss for the Hoosiers. Indiana played competitively every single minute of this game and at the end of the day, the better team won. So why did Indiana move into the top 10? Because the Hoosiers are closer than ever to that "Breakthrough" win. So be on the lookout for the Hoosiers, they may be turning a corner sooner rather than later. 7. Nebraska (3-2) Last Week: 48-7 LOSS vs. Ohio State This Week: vs. Northwestern, 4 p.m. on FOX Yikes. I mean Nebraska barely showed up against Ohio State. Now, don't discredit Ohio State, which is very good. But you need to show some fight in that game and Nebraska really didn't. The Huskers desperately need a bounce-back win against Northwestern on Saturday. 6. Michigan State (4-1) Last Week: 40-31 WIN vs. Indiana This Week: at Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. on ABC Michigan State's high-powered defense didn't look too high-powered against Indiana this past week. Sparty will desperately need a defensive boost when they head to Columbus this weekend. Ohio State is one of the best teams in the nation and if the Spartans want to hang with the Buckeyes, they must pressure Justin Fields and make big-time plays. 5. Michigan (2-1) Last Week: 52-0 WIN vs. Rutgers This Week: vs. Iowa, Noon on FOX Michigan has a chance to prove all the doubters wrong this weekend. We all know Jim Harbaugh's inability to beat up on ranked opponents but this weekend he has an opportunity to change the script and bring Michigan back in a competitive top-25 spot. A win over Iowa would almost ensure a return to the top 15 for Michigan and a big enough win may even have some hope for a return to playoff contention. 4. Penn State (4-0) Last Week: 59-0 WIN at Maryland This Week: vs. Purdue, Noon on ESPN Penn State blew up a solid Maryland squad and is on pace to do so again against Purdue this Saturday. Whatever James Franklin is doing right now in Happy Valley, it is working and working extremely well. Dare I say this is the year of the Nittany Lion in the Big Ten? We should find out sooner rather than later. 3. Iowa (4-0) Last Week: 48-3 WIN vs. Middle Tennessee This Week: at Michigan, Noon on FOX For the past few years, Iowa has been relevant but not dominant. The Hawkeyes have a chance to change that this week against Michigan. A win in the Big House would show the Iowa Hawkeyes are legit and here to stay. If the Hawkeyes can get the win, I fully expect them to move into the top 10 nationally and even higher in the Big Ten power rankings. 2. Wisconsin (4-0) Last Week: 24-15 WIN vs. Northwestern This Week: vs. Kent State, Noon on ESPNU This week serves as the last non-conference game before Wisconsin begins the grind that is the Big Ten conference. With upcoming games against Michigan State and Ohio State, Kent State may be a good opportunity to throw some backups in and give the starters some rest. We should know a ton more about this team in the coming weeks. 1. Ohio State (5-0) Last Week: 48-7 WIN at Nebraska This Week: vs. Michigan State, 7:30 p.m. on ABC I am going to say something bold here. This is the Best Ohio State team we have seen in the past five years. To be honest, it really isn't that close either. The Buckeyes are wiping the floor with their opponents. The play their games with such a dominance that is almost too hard for any opponent to challenge. Ohio State may be the best team in the country right now and the only place I see this stopping is either against Wisconsin or in a College Football Playoff game.
Serbian food?! Grif's back in the lots for another edition of 'Tailgate Talks' chatting with fans prior to Indiana's week four matchup with the Huskies.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/687137395" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] This week on a special edition of the Indiana Football Podcast, Matt & Grif are joined by former Herald Times writer, Mike Miller for an electric discussion about what to expect in this week's matchup against the Michigan State Spartans.
14. Rutgers (1-2) Last Week: 30-16 LOSS vs. Boston College This Week: @ Michigan, Noon on BTN Last week I said if Rutgers could find a way to beat Boston College the team may move up. Well, to no surprise, the Scarlet Knights fell short and back down to No. 14 in the rankings they go. This season is looking to be another long one in Piscataway. 13. Minnesota (3-0) Last Week: BYE This Week: @ Purdue, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2 Minnesota has a huge chance to make a statement against the Boilers this week. The Gophers have played to their level of competition so far this season and if they can do so against a team like Purdue, this might be a matchup of two of the grittiest teams in college football. I expect Purdue to win but if Minnesota can pull out another one, they should move up in the rankings. 12. Illinois (2-2) Last Week: 42-38 LOSS vs. Nebraska This Week: BYE Did anyone else get really super pumped that Illinois was finally going to win a big-time Big Ten game? The Fighting Illini put up one heck of a fight against the Huskers which actually moved them up to 12 in this week's power rankings. The team in Champaign might be a fun one to watch in the Big Ten West this year. 11. Purdue (1-2) Last Week: BYE This Week: VS. Minnesota, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2 1-2 is not the ideal start for a Purdue team rolling off one heck of a Big Ten season a year ago. They have a chance to right the ship against a Minnesota team that is young and lacks weapons. Expect the Boilers to win this one and move in front of the Hoosiers for the No. 10 spot. 10. Indiana (3-1) Last Week: 38-3 WIN vs. UConn This Week: @ Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. on BTN After a terrible showing against Ohio State, Indiana was able to bounce back with a big win against a struggling UConn program. The Indiana Hoosiers' path does not get much easier, however. This week is Michigan State on the road. If Mike Penix cannot return for this one (listed as questionable) it may be another long day for the Hoosiers. However, if Penix returns, Indiana could put pressure on a Sparty team that has been inconsistent as of late. 9. Northwestern (1-2) Last Week: 31-10 LOSS vs. Michigan State This Week: @ Wisconsin, Noon on ABC It is starting to look as if Northwestern has lost the magic of its 2018 campaign, after struggling at home to Michigan State. The road doesn't get much easier for the Wildcats. This week it is at Wisconsin, who has been surging in the polls nationally and won't be easy to cool down. Expect Northwestern to fall to 1-3 after week five. 8. Maryland (2-1) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs. Penn State, 8 p.m. on FS1 This ball game could get very interesting. Maryland started off on fire but cooled down against Temple and Penn State has yet to have a major opponent to go up against. I expect this to be quite the matchup to get a better feel for where both teams are at. 7. Nebraska (3-1) Last Week: 42-38 WIN @ Illinois This Week: vs. Ohio State 7:30 on ABC Nebraska fans were probably sweating bullets at the idea of falling to Illinois this early in 2019. The Huskers held on, however, for a date against Ohio State in week five. This one should be rather exciting considering this will be the Husker's biggest games of 2019 at home. I (like everyone else) expect Ohio State to run away but an impressive showing by Nebraska could move them up in the rankings. 6. Michigan State (3-1) Last Week: 31-10 WIN @ Northwestern This Week: vs. Indiana, 3:30 p.m. on BTN Michigan State proved all the doubters wrong with a huge win against Northwestern last week. The question remains, can they keep the ball rolling against Indiana in week five? A big win this week may have Sparty moving up in the rankings. 5. Michigan (2-1) Last Week: 35-14 LOSS @ Wisconsin This Week: vs. Rutgers, Noon on BTN I said that the Wisconsin game should be very telling of Jim Harbaugh's future in Ann Arbor. Bottom line: the guy cannot win when it matters most. Michigan drops two spots mainly because I firmly believe the Wolverines cannot beat the top four teams. We may be moving towards the end of the Harbaugh era in the Big Ten if these struggles continue. 4. Penn State (3-0) Last Week: BYE This Week: @ Maryland, 8 p.m. on FS1 Penn State has a huge opportunity to show it is a top-three team in the Big Ten with a big win over Maryland this week. The No. 12 team in the nation still has some work to do to prove it's willing to compete with some of the Big Ten's best in Ohio State and Wisconsin. This week should give us hints that they are ready for the next step. 3. Iowa (3-0) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs Middle Tennessee, Noon on ESPN2 Another week, another opportunity for the Hawkeyes to show what they can do in an easy non-conference game. Middle Tennessee isn't great and frankly, Iowa should run away with this one and keep its record at a perfect 4-0. 2. Wisconsin (3-0) Last Week: 35-14 WIN vs. Michigan This Week: VS. Northwestern, Noon on ABC Being a football fan in Madison continues to be nice. The Badgers certainly are elite and they proved that with a big win against Michigan last week. The only thing keeping the Badgers at No. 2 and not No. 1 is a team looking unstoppable in the Big Ten East. Until that matchup in late October, we will just enjoy watching Wisconsin beat up on teams week to week. 1. Ohio State (4-0) Last Week: 76-5 WIN vs. Miami (Ohio) This Week: @ Nebraska, 7:30 p.m. on ABC Not even a question. I don't care about Wisconsin beating Michigan. Ohio State is playing like a team of men amongst boys and they are flat out scary. Justin Fields is an absolute dog, and JK Dobbins is like a human cheat code. Their defense is impossible to penetrate and bottom line: the team is just good. There is no question they are deserving of their ranking and with their first big test this week, we will be able to see how legit the Buckeyes really are.
Well, there you have it. Indiana defeats UConn 38-3 to pick up win No. 3 on the year. The Hoosier Network will have more coverage to follow, including an update on offensive lineman Coy Cronk after he was carted off the field earlier today. For now, some instant thoughts following today's performance: Peyton Ramsey did his job I don't think we need to overreact to Peyton Ramsey’s performance today. Yes, 23-for-27, 247 yards and three touchdowns is rather impressive but let’s not freak out about this. The Hoosiers today faced off against UConn, a defense that has been noted as being one of the worst in the country. This performance was due and frankly was what many were expecting following a blowout loss to Ohio State. I’m not saying Ramsey played badly, I am simply saying that the stat line was nothing spectacular given the strength of the opponent. If Peyton can return next week with a similar, or even better, showing, then there is a bigger conversation to be had. The defense held its own I’ll give credit where credit is due here. The defense played an extremely complete game today. They started off slow, giving up three points early, but when you look at the game stats, this easily could have been another shutout. The Hoosiers defense, led by defensive coordinator Kane Womack, held UConn to 51 rushing yards and only 145 yards in the air while forcing two turnovers (including a pick-six) and sacking the quarterback twice in the backfield. Tom Allen spoke all week about the importance of responding from a blowout loss with an impressive defensive stand and the Hoosiers did exactly that today. We still don’t know who this team is This is by far my biggest takeaway on the day. Usually, by week three or four, fans can get a good idea about a team’s identity and place pretty accurate assumptions about the team’s season moving forward. After week four, we still have no clue who the Indiana Hoosiers are. The teams we saw in week one and three versus the teams we saw in week two and four are completely different in styles and discipline. The results in these games directly represent that. The Hoosiers desperately need to become consistent in their tackling ability as well as develop strengths on the offensive side of the ball that can be relied upon week to week. The Big Umbrella of it all This team has a lot of potential. I really feel they can compete with 90% of the teams on their remaining schedule, especially given the weak performances shown by Michigan and Northwestern today. Bottom line: Indiana has to decide what kind of team it wants to be. If it wants to be a disciplined and dedicated team that Tom Allen pushes the players to be, this team may have something special brewing in Bloomington.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/682862354" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] Join Matt & Grif in the podcast booth this week as they preview the UConn Huskies and how the Hoosiers could rebound after the Ohio State loss.
14. Rutgers (1-1) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs. Boston College (Noon, BTN) If Rutgers can find a way to beat Boston College, they may be finally exiting the No. 14 spot on the Big Ten power rankings. The Scarlet Knights desperately need a good win over a team in a good conference and that is exactly what Boston College is. It is a very winnable game at home and if they can grab a win, expect Rutgers to move up a spot on our rankings. 13. Illinois (2-1) Last Week: 34-31 LOSS vs. Eastern Michigan This Week: vs. Nebraska (8 p.m., BTN) Illinois still hasn't taken that huge step forward since hiring Lovie Smith. I don't think 2019 will be any different and a loss versus Eastern Michigan further proves that. This team struggles to compete not only in the Big Ten but also in nonconference play and that is not a recipe for success in this conference. 12. Minnesota (2-1) Last Week: 35-32 WIN vs. Georgia Southern This Week: BYE Say what you will about this Minnesota team, it's sure fun to watch. Another game coming down to the wire makes Minnesota 2-1. The downside: Minnesota has looked pretty bad against some pretty bad teams. The Gophers are getting the most of their season so far but I don't expect that to continue. The rigorous Big Ten schedule is going to hit them like a rock and it will get ugly. 11. Purdue (1-2) Last Week: 34-13 LOSS vs. TCU This Week: BYE Another year, another 1-2 start for the Boilers. I'm all for a tough schedule to start the year, especially when you are in the Big Ten West. However, starting a year 1-2 automatically puts Purdue in a position to wrestle Indiana for bowl game eligibility in the final game of the season. While that has worked in their favor the past few years, it isn't a long-term recipe for success. The Boilers need to continue to grow and use their weapons on offense to really fulfill their goals in 2019. 10. Indiana (2-1) Last Week: 51-10 LOSS vs. Ohio State This Week: vs UConn (Noon, BTN) Indiana had a rough week. First, you lose starting sensation quarterback Mike Penix to an undisclosed injury and then you suffer a blowout loss to Ohio State at home. Indiana finds itself in a critical point in the season. Indiana can either lose all confidence from the Ohio State game and prepare for another 5-win season, or the team can rebound, recollect and try to learn from what was a terrible game against the Buckeyes. The Hoosiers stand at 10th currently but the next two weeks should be very telling in whether or not they move up or down this list. 9. Maryland (2-1) Last Week: 20-17 LOSS vs. Temple This Week: BYE All good things have to come to an end, right? The firepower of the Maryland offense was just a little too good to be true and that showed in week three against Temple. With this week being a bye for the Terrapins, it may be time to reevaluate and measure the strengths and weaknesses of the team before embarking on a tough Big Ten East schedule. 8. Northwestern (1-1) Last Week: 30-14 WIN vs. UNLV This Week: vs. Michigan State (Noon, ABC) Northwestern continues to be one of the biggest question marks in the Big Ten. Numerous questions surround the program and whether or not the team is capable of making a return to the championship in Indy. A big win over Michigan State may solidify the answer for the Wildcats. If the Wildcats can find a way to upset Sparty, "Chicago's Big Ten team" can get a large confidence boost before playing teams like Wisconsin who will be their main competition for a trip to Indianapolis. 7. Michigan State (2-1) Last Week: 10-7 LOSS vs. Arizona State This Week: at Northwestern (Noon, ABC) Two losses to Arizona State two years in a row is not a good look for Sparty. Losing on a missed field goal just makes it sting a bit more. Michigan State is struggling to stay back in the Top 25. However, like everyone else, the Spartans are in control of their own destiny. This week contains a new challenge with Northwestern. If Michigan State can find a way to win in Evanston, they can find themselves back in the conversation of the relevancy of college football. 6. Nebraska (2-1) Last Week: 44-8 WIN vs. Northern Illinois This Week: at Illinois (8 p.m., BTN) Nebraska has one of the biggest jumps of the week after dominating Northern Illinois. It isn't as much as a Nebraska thing as much as it is a Michigan State and Maryland thing, but still a good week for the Huskers. This is the exact kind of game you want before your first road game in conference play as they play Illinois this Saturday. 5. Penn State (3-0) Last Week: 17-10 WIN vs. Pitt This Week: BYE Weird week for Penn State. The team played an incredibly close game against Pitt and could never really pull away. I'm not saying we should use this game as a benchmark to look at the rest of the season, but carry heavy caution. This Penn State team has been very up and down over the past two years and a downward trend may be coming. 4. Iowa (3-0) Last Week: 18-17 Win at Iowa State This Week: BYE After the in-state rivalry game between the Cyclones and Hawkeyes ended later than it should following numerous rain delays, Iowa took win No. 3 in clutch fashion beating a solid Iowa State team by just one. This won't be the Hawkeyes prettiest game of the 2019 season, but a win is, in fact, a win. With Iowa having a bye week this week, expect the Hawkeyes to come out fresh for a week four game against Middle Tennessee. 3. Michigan (2-0) Last Week: BYE This Week: Wisconsin (Noon, FOX) This week should be very telling for the Wolverines. Not only is this a matchup between two of the top teams in the conference but also a matchup between two of the top teams in the country. The Badgers vs. Wolverines will tell us a lot about the rest of the Big Ten season. If Wisconsin can dominate the ballgame, the Badgers basically put themselves in the Big Ten championship game. However, if Michigan comes out and beats up on the Badgers, the Wolverines find themselves in a College Football Playoff conversation. We all know that Jim Harbaugh preforms poorly against ranked teams, but maybe this is the year that curse is broken. 2. Wisconsin (2-0) Last Week: BYE This Week: at Michigan (Noon, FOX) It must be nice to be a football fan in Madison right now. The Badgers are coming off a solid first two weeks of the season and a week three bye, and they will be fresh for a big test in Ann Arbor this week in what could be one of the best Big Ten games of the year. A win against Michigan might put Wisconsin over the Buckeyes. 1. Ohio State (3-0) Last Week: 51-10 WIN vs Indiana This Week: Miami (Ohio) (3:30 p.m., BTN) We have seen good Ohio State teams in the past few years but this year's squad has another level of excellence to it. Ryan Day is looking like a Coach of the Year candidate and Justin Fields shows flashes of being a Heisman-level quarterback. Ohio State will remain at the one spot this week and probably many more to come.
Welcome back to Memorial Stadium where, through one half of football, Indiana is dominated by Justin Fields and the Buckeyes, 30-10. Ramsey cannot play scared It was clear early on after starting the game on two consecutive three-and-outs that confidence was lacking in the Indiana offense. In Indiana’s first two games, the game began with a heavy pass presence. So far today, the run-and-screen pass has been the bread and butter of the Indiana offense. Although Indiana is more limited with a backup quarterback in play, you just cannot beat Ohio State off a simple offense like the one currently being ran. Ramsey, as a junior, has lost the right to play scared football. The quarterback continues to avoid contact and struggles to impact the offense in the way Penix can. Ramsey needs to feel comfortable throwing the ball downfield and trust his receivers. By sitting back in the pocket and going through his reads he will be able to find the open man. The Kalen Deboer offense is built for a quarterback with strong receivers. If Ramsey can buy into the system and play a ‘braver’ brand of football, we could see a larger offensive presence in the second half. Find a way to limit J.K. Dobbins Listen, he's amazing. He is one of the best running backs in the Big Ten and is already showing that in the first half. Let’s be clear here: if you’re Indiana, your goal shouldn’t be to stop Dobbins, the goal should be to limit him to minimal yards. The strategy needs to be to bend for J.K. but refuse to allow him to break free for a 65-yard breakaway type run that we saw in the second quarter. If you can hold JK to less than 5 yards per carry, Indiana can put themselves in a position to compete in the second half. Cracking under pressure In a two-play sequence that saw an incomplete pass and a safety off a blocked punt in the second quarter, Indiana has already shown its vulnerability to the pressure that comes with the Buckeyes in town. Ohio State is excellent fundamentally, and feeds off of opponents' mistakes, week in and week out. Indiana can't crack to the relentlessness of Ohio State and allow them to cash in on the Hoosier mistakes. If the Hoosiers really want to have a chance in this one, they need to limit their mistakes and feel comfortable playing the big, bad, dog of the Big Ten. The bottom line Fans may be disappointed by the result of the first half but understand this: Indiana is not Ohio State. This Buckeye program is filled with athletes who will play in the NFL in a few years time. Although Indiana only has a few of those guys, this is certainly a learning curve. A late touchdown thrown by Donovan Hale to Peyton Hendershot does shift the momentum a bit, but of course, there's still a lot of work to be done.
Before the Hoosiers got their 52-0 victory over Eastern Illinois last week in Bloomington, The Hoosier Network's Griffin Gonzalez joined the first Indiana tailgate of the fall. Follow along with Grif and see what's in store with the first edition of 'Tailgate Talks' at Memorial Stadium.
As conference games get going this week, let’s take a look at the Big Ten Power Rankings as we head into Week #3. 1. Ohio State (2-0) Last Week: 42-0 WIN vs Cincinnati This Week: at Indiana (Noon, FOX) Ohio State: Really really really good at football. Listen, I wasn’t sold after the FAU game but in an absolute shutout of Cincinnati, they displayed to everyone that the Buckeyes are certainly back in 2019 with the full intent of competing in the College Football Playoff. With their first Big Ten matchup against Indiana this week in the Buckeyes' first true road game, the team in Columbus is on pace to have another dominant year in the Big Ten. 2. Wisconsin (2-0) Last Week: 61-0 WIN vs Central Michigan This Week: BYE Dare I say the Badgers are the best team in the Big Ten West? They have shut out both of their opening two opponents and have looked absolutely phenomenal. Jonathan Taylor is a beast and he is going to continue his dominance behind the Big Ten’s best offensive line. With a bye week this week, the Badgers can only get better. 3. Michigan (2-0) Last Week: 24-21 WIN vs Army (2OT) This Week: BYE Michigan is our Big Ten ‘yikes team of the week.' Michigan was picked by many to win the Big Ten after the departure of Urban Meyer. However, the Harbaugh factor still hasn’t kicked in yet. Against Army, Michigan struggled to get its highly praised offense going behind Shea Patterson and if they don't pick it up soon, the Wolverines will find themselves being the Buckeyes' younger brother again. 4. Iowa (2-0) Last Week: 30-0 WIN vs Rutgers This Week: at Iowa State (4 p.m., FS1) Iowa is like a box of chocolates, you never know what Kirk Ferentz is going to cook up. Sometimes it’s a top-15 ranking and other years it’s barely cracking a top-25 ranking. This year is still up in the air. I believe Iowa has a lot to prove this week against Iowa State and if they can show out, expect the 3-0 Hawkeyes to crack the top 25. 5. Penn State (2-0) Last Week: 45-13 WIN vs Buffalo This Week: vs Pittsburgh (Noon, ABC) They beat Buffalo. A team they should beat year in and year out. There really isn't anything else to say here. We should learn more when the Nittany Lions face off against Pitt this week. 6. Michigan State (2-0) Last Week: 51-17 WIN vs Western Michigan This Week: vs Arizona State (4 p.m., FOX) A big win against Western Michigan is always good but the first real test for the Spartans comes this week against Arizona State. If MSU can destroy the Sun Devils, as many are predicting, they can move up in the ratings. 7. Maryland (2-0) Last Week: 63-20 WIN vs Syracuse This Week: at Temple (Noon, CBSSN) Maryland football has to be the biggest surprise of the college football season so far. The Terrapins were supposed to be in a rebuilding year with the hiring of head coach Mike Locksley. However, the Terrapins are averaging 71-points per game and not looking to slow down anytime soon. This week is Temple, a team I put in the same quality as Syracuse, so it should be another blowout for the Terrapins this weekend. 8. Nebraska (1-1) Last Week: 34-31 LOSS vs Colorado (OT) This Week: vs Northern Illinois (8 p.m., FS1) I just really wasn’t impressed with Nebraska at Colorado this past week. The Huskers gave up a huge lead to give the Buffaloes the upset with a 70% Nebraska crowd in Boulder. If the hype train is going to continue to roll for the new Scott Frost era, the Huskers need to be able to close out games. This past week they failed to do so. 9. Northwestern (0-1) Last Week: BYE This Week: vs UNLV (3:30 p.m., BTN) The Wildcats were one of the only Big ten teams to play on the road in week one and play a legit opponent. Despite being 0-1, the bye week definitely gave the Wildcats some much needed rest to come back in week three in compete against a 1-1 UNLV squad. 10. Purdue (1-1) Last Week: 42-24 WIN vs Vanderbilt This Week: vs TCU (7:30 p.m., BTN) A loss in week one wasn’t the hot start Purdue wanted to start 2019 but a bounce-back win against Vanderbilt was exactly what the Boilers needed. This week comes another big challenge for Purdue as they welcome TCU to town. A Big-12 offense could be the biggest test the Boilers have had as of yet. 11. Indiana (2-0) Last Week: 52-0 WIN vs Eastern Illinois This Week: vs Ohio State (Noon, FOX) Indiana came off a pretty ugly game against Ball State and provided the Hoosier faithful with some much needed hope as the Hoosiers beat up against Eastern Illinois. The only problem: Eastern Illinois is an FCS opponent. With Ohio State coming to town this week, Indiana will get its first real test to see how it can compete against one of the top teams in the nation. 12. Minnesota (1-1) Last Week: 31-23 WIN vs Fresno State This Week: vs Georgia Southern (3:30 p.m., BTN) Minnesota was looking to have an off year and that hasn't been shown as of yet. So far the Gophers have played to the level of their competition and have snuck away both times. Winning on the road at Fresno State is no easy task but the Gophers got the job done. This week they welcome Georgia Southern to Minneapolis in what should be an absolute blowout game. 13. Illinois (2-0) Last Week: 31-23 WIN at UConn This Week: vs Eastern Michigan (Noon, BTN) Illinois impressed many in its week one performance against Akron but scared many against UConn. Illinois is still rebuilding and while quarterback Brandon Peters is a nice addition, Lovie Smith’s squad is going to need a lot more to get the job done in Champaign. 14. Rutgers (1-1) Last Week: 30-0 LOSS at Iowa This Week: BYE Just an overall rough week for the Scarlet Knights. After a huge win against UMass, the Knights were zipped by Iowa. Get ready, it is going to be another long year for Rutgers.
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/680153054" params="color=#ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true" width="100%" height="300" iframe="true" /] On this edition of the IUFB podcast, Grif and Matt discuss the upcoming matchup between The Hoosiers and Buckeyes alongside Hoosier Network Founder and current Ohio State Athletics employee Eddie Cotton.
Join Matt and Grif as they break down Indiana's performance in the 52-0 shutout of Eastern Illinois this past Saturday.
Welcome back to Memorial Stadium where Indiana currently is leading Eastern Illinois by a score of 35-0. Let’s break it down. Penix is Calm, collected, and really dang good Already in the first two quarters, Penix has been able to throw for 14-for-20 for 197 yards and two touchdowns as the redshirt freshman quarterback continues to be an absolute sensation for the Hoosiers offensively. Listen, we knew the guy was good but did we really know he was going to be this good? His patience and poise in the pocket is something many had concerns about coming into the season. However, Penix continues to silence the doubters by debuting a surreal amount of talent. At the end of the half, offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer subbed in Peyton Ramsey to give Penix some rest. Considering the fact that Ramsey threw a 64-yard touchdown in his first play, I’d bet there is a possibility that the Hoosiers could see Jack Tuttle in the second half of this one.