Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We have reached the Hoosiers’ open week and it feels like forever before the Hoosiers take the field against Maryland on November 10th. I enjoy the open week as it lets me settle down, gather thoughts and catch up on things that I have put off over the first nine weeks of the season. So here is a list of things to do this weekend as the Hoosiers try and regroup after falling to 4-5.

1. Enjoy the Big Ten Races

We may finally be getting some fresh blood atop the divisions in the Big Ten in 2018 as Michigan and Northwestern both lead their respective divisions. The race for the West is a four-team race. The Wildcats sit at 5-1 in the conference and play Notre Dame this weekend while Wisconsin, Iowa and Purdue all sit at 3-2. Wisconsin faces Rutgers while Purdue and Iowa face-off in a likely elimination game on Saturday.

In the East Michigan leads the pack with an unblemished 5-0 conference record. Ohio State is just one game behind at 4-1, which could set up for an epic finale in Columbus. Penn State and Michigan State are still hanging around at 3-2. The Nittany Lions have their shot at the Wolverines on Saturday in Ann Arbor while the Spartans travel to Maryland to face the 3-2 Terps (who are long shots). This is probably as interesting of a Big Ten season as I can remember recently.

2. Big Games with Playoff Implications

There are a handful of games that will change the outlook for the 2018 College Football Playoff depending on the outcome. The biggest game of the day is in the SEC West where top-ranked Alabama takes on the LSU Tigers in Death Valley on Saturday night. The Tigers are ranked 4th in the nation, but are 14-point underdogs. An upset would throw everything into chaos.

Another game with big time implications is an SEC East elimination game between the Kentucky Wildcats yes, they’re a top-10 team, and the Georgia Bulldogs.

The Big XII has a big matchup in Austin as Texas hosts West Virginia. There are three one-loss teams in the Big XII and that race should be really fun to watch.

3. Take a Mental Break

The 2018 season has taken a mental toll on the fan base and having a week away from it may be exactly what people need. There are probably errands to run and events to go to this weekend. Taking the family out to enjoy the fall colors or going to explore a something new around Indiana or where ever you may live.

The Huddle

Things IU Fans Can Do During The Open Week

Hoosier Huddle