Hoosier Huddle's Game Day Primer: No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Written by: TJ Inman
What: #18 Indiana Hoosiers (6-0) vs. #25 Nebraska Cornhuskers (5-1)
When: Saturday, October 19 at Noon
Where: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN
How to Watch
The game will be broadcast on FOX and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.
Series History
Many fans assume the Hoosiers and Huskers have a brief history that began only when Nebraska joined the Big Ten. The two programs have actually met 22 times and IU leads the series 10 to 9 with only three ties. Of course, most of Indiana’s wins came in the 1940s under Bo McMillin as Nebraska rotated through coaches with nicknames like “Biff”, “Potsy” and “Bernie”. The Huskers, predictably, hammered IU four times in the 1970s under Tom Osborne and they have knocked off IU two of three times since joining the Big Ten. The last time Nebraska came to Bloomington was 2016 when Mike Riley’s squad knocked off Tom Allen’s IU team 27-22.
What’s at Stake
Nebraska is looking to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016 (Music City Bowl) as they continue to ascend in Matt Rhule’s second season in charge. The Huskers have games remaining against Ohio State, USC, Wisconsin and Iowa plus a home date with UCLA so this game will go a long way towards deciding how the rest of their season could go. IU fans have spent the past two weeks reveling in the team’s best start since 1967. Indiana knows they will be going bowling but there are reasons to be dreaming of things much bigger than a mid-level bowl. The loftiest dreams involve the College Football Playoff and Indiana likely needs an 11-1 record to really feel good about their chances. This game is on FOX and the commensurate national attention is accompanying the broadcast. The next six games are going to be determine whether Curt Cignetti’s first season in Bloomington is a solid season or a historic one.
A FEW THINGS TO LOOK FOR
1. Immovable Object Versus Irresistible Force
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are the only team in the country yet to allow a rushing touchdown. The Indiana Hoosiers have 23 rushing touchdowns this season, trailing only Army and Boise State nationally. The Hoosiers have primarily used a mix of three running backs with TySon Lawton, Kaelon Black and Justice Ellison pounding the rock behind a much-improved offensive line. Nebraska has a terrific duo of interior defensive linemen and they are surrendering only 2.7 yards per rush along with zero rushing touchdowns. Indiana needs to remained balanced on offense and that means finding a way to successfully run the ball against one of the country’s best run defenses.
2. Red Zone Success
Facing a top-notch defense requires terrific efficiency in the red zone. Taking full advantage of each scoring chance is critical. The Indiana Hoosiers are scoring on 96.55 percent of their red zone trips this season, right behind 11 teams that are at 100 percent. Indiana has done that while averaging the most red zone scoring attempts per game in the entire country. IU is getting to the red zone 5.8 times per games, the top mark in the nation and once they are getting there, the Hoosiers are cashing in for points. Nebraska is averaging four red zone chances per game (35th nationally) but they are converting on only 75% of their chances. That’s 109th nationally and tied with teams like Florida International. Nebraska is only allowing 2.2 red zone trips per contest (12th nationally) and opponents are only converting on 72.73 percent of those trips (15th nationally). In short, this is the Indiana offense’s toughest test yet and they’ll need to be very sharp in the red zone to take advantage of whatever scoring chances they get.
3. Pressuring Dylan Raiola
Dylan Raiola has been a steady force for the Nebraska Cornhuskers at quarterback. The five-star recruit has not lit the world on fire as a freshman but he’s been very solid and a major upgrade on what the Huskers have had recently. Raiola is averaging 8 yards per attempt and he is completing 66.9 percent of his passes. Dylan Raiola is not a major threat with his legs though and IU will likely try to ratchet up the pressure against a Nebraska offensive line that has allowed some sacks. The Huskers are 78th in sack percentage allowed at 6.63% sack rate allowed on drop-backs. In Nebraska’s lone loss (at home to Illinois), the Illini had six sacks and eight tackles for loss. With a sold out crowd roaring in Bloomington, getting after the freshman quarterback could be a deciding factor.