Match-up to Watch: Indiana Hoosiers vs. Maryland Terrapins

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers (3-3,1-2) take on the Maryland Terrapins (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday in Bloomington. For the Hoosiers it is a swing game that could very well determine how the rest of the season goes. Changes have been made on the coaching staff following a three-game losing streak as IU tries to fix what ails them. Maryland has dropped two of their last three including a heartbreaker against Purdue last week. They bring a high-powered passing attack to Memorial Stadium and it is up to the IU defense to try and slow them down. That is why Indiana’s secondary versus the Maryland passing game is our match-up to watch.

Indiana’s Secondary vs. Maryland’s Passing Offense

The Terrapins come into Saturday’s game with the Hoosiers with the number two passing attack in the Big Ten at 304.7 yards per game. Their quarterback, Taulia Tagovailoa is completing 74.1-percent of his passes and needs one 300-yard game to set the Maryland record for most 300-yard passing games in a career. He has thrown 11 touchdowns.

Catching the ball for Tagovailoa is a trio of receivers and a tight end who could be the number one guy almost anywhere else. Tight end Corey Dyches leads the Terrapins in receiving yards and touchdowns and will give IU fits. Wide outs Rakim Jarrett, Jeshaun Jones and Jacob Copeland all have at least 16 receptions and two touchdowns on the year. Maryland can spread the ball out to whoever can get open.

The key for the Hoosiers will be how they disguise their coverage in the back end. Tagovailoa has thrown five interceptions and has trouble against defenses that make it difficult to see what is coming. The Hoosiers are 13th in the Big Ten in pass defense allowing 282.3 yards per game and have given up a whopping 16 passing touchdowns. IU does have five interceptions and three have come over the last three games. The Hoosiers have been susceptible to the long ball. So far this season, IU has given up three passes over 70 yards and 10 passes of 30 or more yards. That won’t fly against Maryland.