Written by Andrew Walker

This is the big one. The Indiana Hoosiers, as the no. 9 team in the nation is about to travel to Columbus, Ohio and take on the no. 3 team in the nation. The Ohio State Buckeyes are incredibly perennially good. Perennially great, mind you. Indiana hasn’t had much luck against the Buckeyes in years past, but this is undoubtedly a different Indiana football team. Tom Allen has his team absolutely humming right now. Most all the games the Hoosiers have played this year have been three phase games. Offense, defense, and special teams have played out of their minds in these games, but when it comes to Ohio State, that still might not be enough.

Indiana comes into this game off of what is basically their fourth statement win of the season, shutting out Michigan State 24-0. The defense absolutely shined in that performance, and the defense is already what the Hoosiers are using as their rallying cry for this upcoming game.

As for a matchup to watch, the Hoosier defense is going to have to be able to shut down Justin Fields if Indiana wants to win. Fields has been unbelievable this year, and it’s time for one Big Ten team to give him some trouble. Sophomore DB Tiawan Mullen know full well how important shutting down Fields will be. “(Fields) is pretty deceptive in where he is throwing the ball," cornerback Tiawan Mullen says. "We have to create takeaways in the coverages we play. We need to try to create turnovers. He is a great quarterback. He is very detailed in where he throws the ball, but we have to create some takeaways."

Fields is putting up absolute Heisman contender numbers at this point in the season. With 908 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, no interceptions and an 86.7 completion percentage, you had better hope that he has an off night.

Fundamentally, the defense will obviously have to stop Fields. But it is a bit more than that. Whoever blinks first immediately has the upper hand in the contest. Execution at its most sincere level has to be achieved if Indiana wants to have a shot. Senior LB Micah McFadden also knows that execution is the key to winning the game. “They have a great quarterback and a great offense as a whole with the receivers on the outside," McFadden says. "It comes down to our defense executing fundamentally and doing what the coaches tell us to do each day and each week.”

Even though Indiana leads the Big Ten in interceptions with 10 and sacks with 12, adding to those numbers is going to be a massive part of Indiana’s effort. McFadden and Mullen are going to have to play out of their minds, along with everyone else on this incredible defense.

Lastly, Indiana has to play their best. They have to at least look like they played their best. If the Hoosiers win, it’s a guarantee that they would move up in the rankings. If they lose, but lose a really close and contentious game, I see no reason why they wouldn’t move up anyway. McFadden knows how well Indiana needs to perform, and he’s got his sights set on victory. "We have to perform at a high level and prepare that way throughout the week, we need to go into game day feeling confident in everything that we do, feel prepared, play lights out, play fast and physical, and play that Indiana football that we always talk about. We need to be ready to go."

The Huddle

Matchup to Watch Week Five: Indiana's Defense vs. Justin Fields

Hoosier Huddle