Hoosiers Have a Chance to Set the Tone for the 2023 Season Against Cardinals on Saturday

Written by: Zachary Greene 

Saturday represents a chance to rebuild the spirit of Indiana football. The Hoosiers will take on the Louisville Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium with plenty at stake. A potential win could change the future of Tom Allen and the 2023 season.

Two seasons ago, the Hoosiers took on Cincinnati in a highly anticipated game on a national stage. While the program fought hard, they had two costly plays including an ejection from current New York Giant Micah McFadden and a fumble from inside the five-yard line. That those two plays would have completely changed the Hoosiers 2021 season and the current state of the program. Saturday is one of those games.

“A really good football team. A lot of talent. A lot of athleticism, physical football team. Played really hard and they're coming into this game 2-0. And excited about the opportunity we have this week to continue to develop as a program, grow this team and continue to get better.” Tom Allen said of Louisville during Monday’s press conference. 

Allen knows how important this game is. A win could set the Hoosiers up in a good spot to go bowling. It won’t be easy. The Louisville Cardinals are 2-0 under new head coach Jeff Brohm and looking to build off their first two games. They have a dynamic playmaker in Jamari Thrash who has had two back-to-back games with touchdowns including finding the endzone twice this past Saturday. In the ground game, they have an exclusive back in Jawhar Jordan who also has three touchdowns on the season. To pair with Jordan are Issac Guerendo and Maurice Turner.

“They've got a really, really talented receiver corps, two really good running backs and a good quarterback that knows the system. Obviously recruited him to Purdue. Plummer is a big athletic, quarterback with a big arm. And they love to stretch the field vertically, and they also stretch it horizontally.” Allen said of the Cardinals.

While the Cardinals have had success on offense the past two games, they haven’t faced a defense quite like the Hoosiers. 

Furthermore, there is a different energy about the Hoosiers defense this season. In part to the combination of vets and youngsters. Andre Carter leads the way for the defense along with Aaron Casey. Two of the captains and veterans on this team. With two games in the books, Carter and Casey are two players who have led the way commanding the defense to an impressive two games.

“We all trust each other. Knowing everyone of else has a reasonability and just playing off that.” Casey said on Monday. “(Andre Carter’s) just a dominant force. The way he plays. He’s a beast.”

These two players will lead the way on Saturday against the Cardinals ground game which Allen spoke more about on Monday.

“They're running the football a lot better in these first two games than maybe they have in the past places he's been, which puts more pressure on your defense, without question.” Allen said.

To round it off, co-defensive coordinator Matt Guerrieri gave praise to Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals as they head to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Hoosiers. 

“He’s been successful calling plays throughout his career. He has a system that he believes in. The study is important but personal is also important. What do guys do best. Who are the people are Louisville and how do they function best?” Guerrieri asked.

This will be the only time the Hoosiers and Cardinals meet as the final two games of a three-game series have been canceled according to an Indy Star report.