Game Day Primer: Indiana vs. Illinois
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Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)
What: Indiana Hoosiers (0-0) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0)
When: Friday, September 2 at 8:00 EST on FS1
Where: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN
How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on FS1 and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.
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Series History: The Indiana Hoosiers and Illinois Fighting Illini have played 71 times in the history of this conference rivalry. Illinois has a strong football history and has won 45 times with IU taking 24 and a pair of ties. The Hoosiers have won the last three meetings with Illinois last winning in 2011. IU won in 2012, 2013 and 2017 (Tom Allen over Lovie Smith). This is the first meeting between Tom Allen and Bret Bielema.
What’s at Stake: The 2021 season was an unmitigated disaster for the Indiana Hoosiers. This has been analyzed and picked apart for the past nine months and the momentum from the historic 2020 season was stripped away and must be rebuilt. With a difficult schedule and skepticism about IU’s direction, this game serves as a national television spotlight that is as close to a “must win” as a season-opening game can be. Illinois is 1-0 after drubbing Wyoming and their bowl expectations could hinge on moving to 2-0 with a win over Indiana.
A FEW THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. “A Change Would Do You Good”
Tom Allen channeled his inner Sheryl Crow and changed. The personnel has changed, the coaching staff has changed, the offensive system has changed, the person calling the plays on both sides of the ball has changed. The culture of LEO remained in place but the Hoosiers looked at themselves and saw changes that needed made. This article would turn into a novel if we list every new individual to keep an eye on. So, to focus on a couple of changes to watch on Friday night: Tom Allen and Walt Bell calling plays on defense and offense, respectively. How do those two approach this season opener? New personnel in key positions like Shaun Shivers, Josh Henderson, Jaylin Lucas, Cam Camper, Emory Simmons, Andison Coby, JH Tevis, Myles Jackson and Dasan McCullough. The list could go on but it would be advisable to have your player roster handy for all the new faces in Bloomington.
2. Quarterback Play
Michael Penix is now in Seattle with the Washington Huskies and IU brought in Connor Bazelak to compete with Jack Tuttle and Dexter Williams for the starting quarterback position. Tom Allen announced he had a quarterback decision made but he would not be publicly naming the starting quarterback prior to the game. We’ll know who QB1 is when the offense takes the field for the first time against the Illini. How does Walt Bell work that quarterback into the game and attack an Illinois defense that was stout a season ago and locked down Wyoming in the season opener? Bazelak, a transfer from Missouri, is the odds-on favorite to be given the first chance at the starting job on Friday night. The quarterback position was a disaster in 2021 and no matter who takes the reins first has to give IU a steadier hand in order to have a shot at victory.
3. Job Number One for Retooled Defense: Slow Down Brown
Tom Allen did not like the way his defense played in 2021. Defensive coordinator Charlton Warren was out, Chad Wilt is in and Tom Allen will be calling the plays during the 2022 season to make sure things are done the way he wants them done on that side of the ball. Cam Jones is back to lead the linebackers, the secondary looks very strong with Monster Matthews, Tiawan Mullen and Jaylin Williams and a number of transfer additions plus five-star freshman Dasan McCullough join a talented group to give IU a deep unit. The first test for Tom Allen and the Hoosiers is a tough one: figure out a way to limit running back Chase Brown. One of the best all-purpose running backs in the country, the junior scored three times in a breezy win over Wyoming and will be the feature piece of Bielema’s Illinois attack. The Hoosiers must limit Brown’s big plays, force new quarterback Tommy DeVito into third down passing situations and find a way to pressure him into errors.