Game Wrap and Reaction: Cincinnati 45 Indiana 24
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Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
Opponent: Cincinnati Bearcats
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Why They Played: The Hoosiers and Bearcats played as the back end of a home-and-home series.
What The Game Meant: This game was a chance for the Hoosiers to grab their fourth win of the season. Being 3-0 coming in took off some of the pressure to make this a must win though.
Top Offensive Performers
Cam Camper, WR, Indiana- Camper made 10 catches for 126 yards and has quickly become IU’s go-to receiver. Many of his catches went for important first downs and he gave the effort needed to win.
Ben Bryant, QB, Cincinnati- Ben Bryant’s first half was what won the game. In the first half he had 306 yards passing with four scores. He finished with 354 yards passing and four touchdowns.
Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati-Scott tied a school-record with three touchdown passes. He finished the day with 10 catches for 185 yards.
Top Defensive Performers
DeMarcus Elliott, DL, Indiana- Elliott anchored a good defensive line performance against the run. He made five tackles including a half tackle for loss.
Alfred Bryant, DL, Indiana- Bryant may have been IU’s best defender in the second half. He had a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Ivan Pace, LB, Cincinnati- Pace was the best defender on the field Saturday. He made 15 total tackles and wrecked the IU offense with 4.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Special Team Performance
The IU special teams hit a field goal and three extra points. Charles Campbell also kicked off in high-leverage situations in order to avoid returns by Tre Tucker.
James Evans had his best game as a Hoosier as well. He averaged 45 yards per kick and pinned Cincinnati inside the 20-yard line four times on seven punts.
The Hoosiers had to put Connor Delp on punt return as well after it looked like D.J. Matthews was hurt on a 10-yard return. Delp had three returns for five yards, but misplayed a punt that he fair caught at the three-yard line. If Matthews’s injury is long-term, IU will need to find another option.
Omar Cooper and Jaylin Lucas both had short kickoff returns.
Key Stat(s)
28
Cincinnati pulled away with a 28-point second quarter to take a 38-10 lead into half time.
Turning Point
With IU trailing 24-10 with just under three minutes left in the first half, IU was facing a fourth-and-one from the Cincinnati 46-yard line. A first down probably gets IU enough momentum to get into field goal range, if not more.
Hoosier offensive tackle Luke Haggard was called for a false start and IU had to punt. Cincinnati would score on the next drive to go up 31-10 before a strip sack with :22 seconds left in the half made it 38-10.
I Knew it Was Over When…
When IU’s drive ended on a failed fourth down with 4:22 left in the game at the Cincinnati 38-yard line. IU was down 38-24 at the time and a touchdown on that drive would’ve kept hope alive.
Players of the Game
Cam Camper, IU- Camper had a big game and was IU’s best option on offense.
Tyler Scott, Cincinnati-Tyler Scott made the IU secondary look like a JV team in the first half.
What I took away from the game
The Hoosiers couldn’t have the first half they had on Saturday. Call it a “slow start”, but they actually started the game decently (what counts as the start of the game?).
What is most troubling for the Hoosiers is that the misfires came in the secondary, a unit IU was counting on to be very solid for them. Whether it is over coaching, miscommunications or just not executing, it has to get fixed.
This loss is not as catastrophic as some media and fans are saying. IU was a 16.5-point underdog. If you thought IU was going to go into Nippert and just win the game, you haven’t watched Cincinnati football over the past three seasons.
Not being catastrophic does not mean this was not concerning. The holes that showed in IU’s wins were blasted open in this game, but there are still eight games on the schedule and if IU can get these issues fixed, they’ll be fine at Nebraska.
I thought Tom Allen pressed a little on Saturday making uncharacteristic calls, like throwing with :32 seconds left in the half when he would usually take a knee.
The offense needs to take a long, hard look at the offensive line personnel as well. The right side of the line was manhandled as Parker Hanna and the combination of Tim Weaver and Kahlil Benson at guard took their lumps. Joshua Sales played in spots and made his mistakes too, but having a young player with a future with the program needs to play over Hanna.
Missing Zack Carpenter manifested itself as well on Saturday as Caleb Murphy was pushed back constantly. IU’s coaches need to juggle the lineup and hope that Carpenter and/or Cam Knight can get back sooner rather than later.
Connor Bazelak threw the ball a school-record 66 times and was under constant pressure. His tendancy to throw high was an issue Saturday, along with some under throws. However, IU is not moving off of Bazelak at quarterback.
AJ Barner needs to be more involved in the passing game.
The run game had its moments, but largely showed that Josh Henderson needs to be the primary back with Shaun Shivers being the change of pace.
The biggest thing IU fans need to be worried about is the health of D.J. Matthews and Monster Matthews. Both left the game banged up on Saturday and both tough for IU to replace.
Nebraska becomes the swing game of the season. The Huskers are 1-3 and have already fired their coach. IU cannot let them hang around and get momentum. We have seen teams crater and Nebraska is on the verge of being that team.