Hoosiers Need to Find Energy in A Must Win Game

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Nate Sudfeld must be a leader on the field and fire up his team for Saturday Image Source: IndyStar.com

Nate Sudfeld must be a leader on the field and fire up his team for Saturday Image Source: IndyStar.com

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Hoosiers are sitting at 2-2 right now heading into their final non-conference game against Conference USA’s North Texas. The season has had its rolling waves of emotion in just four games, but if Indiana can come out of Saturday with a win they will sit at 3-2 with endless possibilities in front of them. Earlier this season I wrote that IU needed to go 3-1 in their non-conference games to have a shot at a bowl game. A win against the Mean Green will accomplish that. However, the Hoosiers, fans, players, and coaches cannot over look this game. There were hints all week that the Hoosiers may have over looked Maryland a little bit and that led to the team’s flatness last week. This is not a “should win” game or a “supposed to win” game. This is a have to win game. Last week’s loss was a wake up call around the program that the win over Missouri was not the ultimate goal nor did it mean more than a great win on the road and a step in the right direction. The Hoosiers should come in with their hair on fire Saturday no matter what. While most of the team has changed, this is a Hoosier program that was embarrassed in Denton by the Mean Green in 2011. Now is the time for players to get mad and play with a chip on their shoulders.

North Texas comes into Bloomington leading the nation in sacks with 19. Sure, they have not played much competition, but 19 sacks are still very impressive. The Hoosiers offense better have fixed whatever ailed them last week because this defense is aggressive and will force mistakes to be made. The Hoosiers have to push this team around. IU is bigger, more talented, and deeper at most positions. However, North Texas will be up for this game. A chance to knock off a Power Five team on the road will have they amped from the beginning and Kevin Wilson’s squad must match that intensity or else it could find itself in a hole early.