Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Opponent: Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Location: Bloomington, IN

Why They Played: The Hoosiers and Scarlet Knights play annually as members of the Big Ten East.

What The Game Meant: There was plenty on the line for the Hoosiers coming into the game against Rutgers. This was Tom Allen’s last stand. This was as devastating a loss for the program and the fanbase as there has been since the 83-20 loss at Wisconsin.

Top Offensive Performers

Indiana, None-

Rutgers Running Game- The Scarlet Knight running game set a Rutgers record for most rushing yards in a Big Ten game with 276 yards (143 from Gavin Wimsatt and 109 from Kyle Monangai and three touchdowns.

Top Defensive Performers

Amare Ferrell, DB, Indiana- The true freshman was thrown into the fire due to an injury to Noah Pierre and Louis Moore’s ejection for targeting. He made seven solo tackles and filled in nicely.

Robert Longerbeam, DB, Rutgers- Longerbeam had three pass breakups and three tackles.

Special Team Performance

This was the worst IU special teams performance in recent memory. IU allowed a blocked punt touchdown, which turned the tide of the game. All-American kick returner Jaylin Lucas muffed a punt that resulted in the go-a-head field goal to end the first half.

James Evans was booming punts, but too far. Lucas and David Holloman had a miscommunication on a kick return that cost IU a chance to get the ball in Lucas’s hands.

Chris Freeman hit both of his extra points.

Key Stat(s)

20.8 Million

Just in case people don’t know the number. It’s Tom Allen’s buyout at the end of the season.

Turning Point

The game turned for the worse when IU had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. IU tried checking protections at least three times before snapping it and Rutgers knew exactly what was going on. The score put the Scarlet Knights up 14-7 and while IU tied it up later in the second quarter, the bad mojo was flowing deep.

I Knew it Was Over When…

Rutgers quarterback Gavin Wimsatt broke the goal line for a 1-yard touchdown to put the Scarlet Knights up 24-14.

Players of the Game

Rutgers Run Game- 276 yards on the ground when everyone in the world knows they are going to run the ball is impressive.

What I took away from the game

What’s the Vince Carter gif? ‘It’s Over’?

Well, it’s over. The game, the season and the Tom Allen Era of Indiana football. Rutgers came in and bullied IU. There were mistakes all over the field for the Hoosiers in a game they absolutely had to win to keep any of the preceding things alive. Apathy is here and even the most die hard of fans have said ‘I’m done’.

If the athletic department cannot sense that, well I don’t know what to say.

There are five games left and IU is staring down their second 2-10 (0-9) season in three years. The biggest question facing IU Football after this loss is whether or not the athletic department can pay Allen’s massive buyout (much more on this later in the year).

But, it’s over. There is no way forward.

What’s Next

Indiana will travel to Penn State as they try and finish out the last five games of the season.

The Huddle

Game Wrap and Reaction: Rutgers 31 Indiana 14