IU Will Raise the Victory Flag Against Charlotte If...

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Written by Sammy Jacobs

After every win the Indiana Hoosiers raise the Victory Flag high over Memorial Stadium. The Hoosiers return home 3-0 after a resounding 42-13 win over UCLA and find themselves 28-point favorites against the Charlotte 49ers. Here is how Indiana can move to 4-0 and raise the Victory Flag again on Saturday.

1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

With the 3-0 start and a 42-13 win over UCLA on national TV, the national media is starting to take notice of Indiana football. That’s terrific and more eyes on the program and fans in the stands is only a positive. However, the team can’t lose sight of the goal in front of them. This week that job is to beat Charlotte and go 4-0. Curt Cignetti is from the Nick Saban tree of coaching and as Saban would say, all this publicity is rat poison. IU needs to avoid the rat poison and keep their focus on the prize, a win on Saturday.

2. Finish the First Half Strong

There has not been too much to be concerned about with the 2024 Hoosier football team, but one area that has become a little bit of a sore spot is how IU closes out first halves. In each game the Hoosiers have let their opponents score on their final drive of the half. FIU and UCLA scored touchdowns while Western Illinois kicked a field goal. This has irked Cignetti heading into half time as the team takes the pressure off on defense. It may not be a major concern, but three games is now a pattern. IU is much better than Charlotte and this should be something they can clean up against the 49ers.

3. Clean up Penalties

Curt Cignetti and his staff prided themselves on their team’s lack of penalties in 2023. James Madison was at the top of the Sun Belt in terms of fewest penalties committed. For whatever reason that has not carried over to Indiana in 2024. The Hoosiers rank 15th in the Big Ten (still weird) in penalties committed with 25 penalties (8.3 per game) for 225 yards. Yes, some of the calls against UCLA were not good, but there were also multiple procedure penalties to start and end the games. Eliminating all penalties is a fool’s errand and IU wants to play an attacking style of football so penalties will happen. What they can do is eliminate the false starts and illegal formations.

4. Get Pressure on Charlotte’s Quarterback

Charlotte will be starting their third-string quarterback Trexler Ivey on Saturday and the 49er offensive line has not been a strength. IU’s defensive line and linebackers should be able to put pressure on Ivey and force him to make quick decisions. IU leads the Big Ten in sacks with 12 and that total should climb on Saturday.

5. Take Care of the Football and Win Special Teams

Two things that spur an upset are turnovers and big special teams plays. The Hoosiers have done an exceptional job at both of those things so far this season. IU is plus-six in turnover margin having not turned the ball over yet this year and have not had a critical special teams gaff that has haunted this program in the past. IU will have to keep a lid on Charlotte returner Henry Rutledge who is averaging 30 yards per return.