Week 10 Match-Ups to Watch: Indiana vs. Handling Success and Northwestern's Defense

Image: Getty Images

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers have a challenge on Saturday night in Bloomington when the Northwestern Wildcats come to town for the first November night game in Memorial Stadium history. The challenge comes in two forms. The first challenge is how Indiana will handle their success. the Hoosiers are sitting at 6-2 (3-2) and have gotten the sweet taste of success and all the attention that comes with it. While Tom Allen and his staff have done a great job keeping this team focused on the bigger picture. Allen has stressed that there are bigger goals than just a sixth win and qualifying for a bowl.

Allen is right, the Hoosiers have plenty left to play for. Still on the table is the first winning season since 2007 as well as a winning conference record. The wins will also help the Hoosiers land a better bowl destination as well. The more wins they rack up (and the more IU fans show up to games) the more attractive they become to bowl representatives. There is no reason for IU to lose focus of the bigger picture unless they’re having trouble handling success.

The second challenge for Indiana comes on the field in the form of the Northwestern defense. The Wildcats are 1-6 (0-5) for a reason, but it’s not because of how their defense has played.

The Wildcats check-in around the middle of the pack on defense. They are ranked ninth in scoring (24.4 ppg), sixth in passing (180 ypg), 10th in rushing (159.4 ypg) and ninth in total defense (339.4 ypg).

The Northwestern defense is spearheaded by defensive lineman Joe Gaziano, who leads the team with 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks, and linebacker Paddy Fisher who is third on the team with 53 total tackles. However, Northwestern has not faced a passing attack like IU’s this season. They did play Ohio State, but the Buckeyes are a more balanced team and they chose to run the ball all over the Wildcats.

The Hoosiers lead the conference in passing as Michael Penix and Peyton Ramsey have combined for 312.8 yards per game through the air. Indiana has multiple weapons at receiver, so if Northwestern focuses on taking Whop Philyor, the Big Ten’s leading receiver with 57 catches for 737 yards, out of the game, someone else has been able to pick up the slack.

Northwestern is a tough, well-coached team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It will be cold on Saturday in Bloomington and the ball will be slick. Northwestern has forced seven fumbles this season, an average of one per game, and it could be that one fumble that wakes the defending Big Ten West division champions to wake up from their season-long slumber.