Numbers that Matter: Season Opening Showdown in South Beach

Alex McGough is entering his third season as the Panthers' starting quarterback. The redshirt junior should provide Indiana's reported improved secondary with a good, early season test. - Photo credit: Cam Koenig

Written By: Nick Holmes (@HoosierHolmes)

For all intents and purposes, the 2015 season was a successful one for the Hoosiers, despite dropping their postseason matchup with the Duke Blue Devils. However, the successes and disappointments of last year are in the rearview mirror and a world of endless possibilities are set before them. Indiana enters the fall with one of its most talented rosters to date. And while there are some question marks surrounding some very key positions, this group has enough weapons in place to help foster along the growth of these fresh faces looking to make an impact.

It goes without saying that the road to a postseason berth would be made much easier with a victory in South Beach this week. However, the purpose of this piece is to take a look at some numbers I found interesting when taking closer look at the matchup between the Hoosiers and Panthers of Florida International.

2011 – This is the last time Indiana opened the season up away from Memorial Stadium, which happened to be Coach Wilson’s very first game with the program. Indiana traveled to Indianapolis for a matchup with Ball State at Lucas Oil Stadium. Unfortunately, the Hoosiers lost 27-20.

2005 – So the question that possibly came to your mind was, when was the last time the Hoosiers opened the season up with a victory on the road? Well, all the way back in 2005 during Coach Hoeppner’s first season with the program Indiana traveled to Kalamazoo and knocked off Western Michigan 20-13.

4-1 -Coach Wilson is 4-and-1 all time in season openers; however, it’s worth noting that all those wins have come against FCS opponents. Their lone loss coming against the aforementioned Cardinals.

3 – With the Big Ten instituting a nine game conference schedule this season, Indiana plays just three out of conference opponents for the first time since, 2005. That was also the last season college football teams played an 11-game schedule.

3-4 – Since Coach Wilson has taken over the program, the Hoosiers have posted a 3-and-4 record on the road in out of conference games. It’s worth noting that they have won their last two out of conference games on the road, upsetting Missouri 31-27 in 2014 and escaping Winston-Salem with a 31-24 victory over Wake Forest last fall.

3.5 – Even in those four defeats, Indiana was able to keep it close, losing by a total of 14 points or just 3.5 points per game.

.600 – The Hoosiers winning percentage on the road in 2015, with victories over Wake Forest, Maryland and Purdue and losses to Michigan State and Penn State. An encouraging sign for a program that has struggled mightily on the road in years’ past.

1,000 miles – The Hoosiers have not traveled this far away from Memorial Stadium since the 2004 season when they flew across the country to knock off the Ducks 30 to 24, in Eugene, Oregon.

4-1 – While their schedule at home was not exactly strenuous last fall, the Panthers still did a good job of taking care of business at home, winning 4 out of possible 5 games in Miami last season.

23 - Entering his redshirt junior season, quarterback Alex McGough already has 23 career starts under his belt. McGough will provide Indiana's secondary a great, early season test.

3.9 – The Hoosiers prolific rushing attack averaged 4.6 yards per carry last fall. Of the Hoosiers four out of conference games last season, the Panthers did the best job of slowing down Indiana’s running attack, limiting it to just 3.9 yards per carry. With the stable of running backs Indiana boasts this fall along with a talented and experienced offensive line, there’s a good chance that yard per carry will be higher this time when the two teams match up.

0 – The Hoosiers were held scoreless in the first quarter twice last season, one of those times were against the Panthers and the other was in the Pinstripe Bowl against Duke. Indiana was able to weather the slow start against FIU because they were at home. However, getting off on the wrong foot in Miami could be a recipe for disaster.

81 – Thomas Owens had the Hoosiers secondary’s number all afternoon and evening last season, making 9 grabs for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns, the latter two being career highs. Here’s a good early test for what hopes to be an improved Indiana defensive backfield. Keeping FIU’s number 81 in check will certainly be point of emphasis for the Hoosiers defense.

3-3 – During last season’s contest Indiana forced three FIU turnovers, 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery. The Hoosiers capitalized on all three occasions, scoring a touchdown each time. Takeaways have become an even greater point of emphasis under Defensive Coordinator Tom Allen. Not wasting these extra possessions will fall on Coach Wilson and the offense.

96 – The Panthers were threatening late to tie the ball game up but an interception by Jameel Cook Jr. returned 96 yards for a touchdown sealed the victory for the Hoosiers. If Indiana finds themselves needing a similar play to clinch the game come Thursday evening, then there’s a good chance they have failed to play to their potential against FIU.

Like I said all last season, these are only numbers and the real game is played out on the gridiron. Indiana knows what it's going to take to beat the Panthers, as they did it just last season. But taking the show on the road in potentially less than ideal weather conditions could add another variable to the mix. With that said, I expect the Hoosiers to leave Miami with a "W" in hand and victory flag  making its way back up the flag pole for this first time in over 8 months.