IU Will Raise the Victory Flag Against Ohio State if…
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Image: Indiana Athletics
Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)
The Indiana Hoosiers take on the No. 3/4 Ohio State Buckeyes in Bloomington on Saturday to open the 2023 season. IU comes into the game as a 30-point underdog and has not beaten the Buckeyes since 1988. After every victory in football the Hoosiers raise the Victory Flag high above Memorial Stadium, so IU will raise the Victory Flag if…
1. Limit Pre-Snap Penalties
It is hard enough to beat Ohio State and the first game mistakes need to be limited. Pre-snap penalties are absolute drive killers for teams trying to spring an upset. The Hoosiers had plenty of issues with these last season, especially early in the game.
2. Take Care of the Ball and Take the Ball Away From Ohio State
It’s a simple formula and is usually the most predictive stat in who wins a football game. The Buckeyes finished third in the Big Ten in 2022 in turnover margin at plus-eight while the Hoosiers were 12th at minus-five. With two inexperienced quarterbacks, turnovers may be an issue for the offense. The Buckeyes offense does not need help scoring points. On defense, takeaways are part of the DNA of the program. IU needs to get back to taking the ball away and giving their offense more of a chance to score.
3. Dominate the Special Teams Battle
Special teams is an area that can help teams even the playing field against a superior opponent and IU has the weapons to do so with Jaylin Lucas returning kicks and James Evans punting. Lucas gives the Hoosiers the ability to score from anywhere on the field and Ohio State has had to game plan for him. A big return creates momentum and has changed games in the past.
Evans is excellent at pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line, however Indiana’s defense needs to capitalize on these opportunities to force a punt and give the offense back with good field position.
Where Indiana may struggle is in the field goal kicking department as IU has not announced a starting kicker yet, but any of the candidates they trot out will be attempting their first FBS level field goal.
4. Gonna Need a Little ‘Luck’
In every upset there is a little ‘luck’ that comes into play. While it may not be actual luck and more like the way a weird shaped ball bounce, teams that pull off upsets get it. Whether it be a field goal being banked in, a fumble bouncing the right way or a tipped ball getting intercepted. IU will need the majority of those bounces to go their way.