Written by Andrew Walker

The Indiana Hoosiers are now bowl eligible. If it seems weird that I’m saying that before October is even over, you’re right. Indiana’s bowl eligibility before November is a huge accomplishment for this program and everyone around it. With the sure fire bowl game now on everyone’s mind, let’s take a look at five takeaways from Saturday’s game.

1, Peyton Ramsey played well when he had to.

The all-time leader in Hoosier completion percentage and current interim starting quarterback for the Hoosiers played the whole game and had an absolutely unbelievable showing. 24/70, a career-high 351 yards with two TD’s and one interception. Minus the interception, Ramsey stepped in for an injured Mike Penix for the second time and showed how he can lead this football team. Ramsey also ran for another touchdown and a huge first down to help seal the win late in the game.

2. First win over Nebraska since 1959.

I know, it sounds ridiculous. The win in question was a 23-7 victory for the Hoosiers when Phil Dickens was the coach. But for this Hoosier football team, willed by a head coach that will never let his team down, winning this sixth game for bowl eligibility in October is extremely huge. IU’s win over this Cornhusker team didn’t just stand for bowl eligibility, said Allen. “...I believe this constitutes as a breakthrough.” What a remarkable statement from someone who’s worked so hard for this. A great win was deserved yesterday.

3. An inconsistent defense got the job done.

Everyone could see it. The defense in the first half was left looking like Swiss cheese with a few extra holes in it. The Hoosiers let up 135 yards and 14 points in just over three minutes of possession from the Cornhuskers and didn’t really tighten things up. The pass rush for the Hoosiers was an incredibly redeeming quality and without the pass rush, Allen Stallings might not have returned a fumble 68 yards or made the crucial stop necessary to put the game in the final few minutes. This defense had just enough going for it to overcome a Nebraska team that accrued 514 total yards of offense behind their second and third string QB’s to win.

4. Receivers are turning into monsters.

Whop Philior and Ty Fryfogle had incredible games against the Cornhuskers. Philior had an enormous game with 14 receptions for 178 yards, and Fryfogle had 78 yards receiving and one of the prettiest back-shoulder contested catches in the end zone I’ve ever seen. Ramsey, confident in his accuracy, tossed one up for the young receiver and placed it perfectly for Fryfogle to make it look pretty. Fryfogle and the rest of the receiving corps have really been playing well in the last few games, and it’s one of the main reasons for the Hoosiers’ recent success.

5. Confidence going forward should be extremely high.

After the game was over, and after the celebrations in the locker room, every single player on this Indiana Football team has to understand one thing. Never let up. Just because you’re bowl eligible doesn’t mean your season is over. The possibilities of what can happen from now until the end of the season are great. With the possibility of a top 25 ranking, you’ve got to play as hard as you can.

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