Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

When Indiana takes the field on Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska it will be anyone’s guess who will be available on each team. Hoosier head coach Tom Allen is calling Michael Penix a ‘game-time decision’ and Nebraska has their own injury issues with quarterback Taylor Martinez and Wan’Dale Robinson. With that, the matchup to watch on Saturday is Indiana’s running game versus Nebraska’s rush defense.

Indiana’s rushing attack started the year off sluggishly. Over the first three games the Hoosiers ran for 308 yards on 98 carries, a dismal 3.1-yard per carry average. That number does include Ohio State, but even against Ball State and Eastern Illinois, IU never rushed for more than 148 yards in a game. Over the last four game the Hoosiers have re-awakened the running game, albeit with a banged up offensive line that is without Coy Cronk and was without starting center Hunter Littlejohn last week against Maryland. The Hoosiers have ran for 694 yards on 138 carries, which comes to a much healthier 5.03-yard per carry average. For the season the Hoosiers check in at 11th in the Big Ten at 142.57 yards per game on the ground.

Indiana’s starting running back Stevie Scott has racked up back-to-back 100-yard games and is coming off a 108-yard and two-touchdown performance in a win over Maryland. The Hoosiers can also throw two former four-star recruits in the backfield in Ronnie Walker (15 att. 53 yards) and Sampson James (31 att. 85 yards). Recently, the Hoosiers have been using all-purpose back David Ellis out of the backfield and he has eight times for 52 yards on the season.

Nebraska, who will wear black jerseys on Saturday to honor their vaunted ‘Blackshirt’ defenses of the past, is ranked 12th in the conference in run defense. The Huskers give up 187.71 yards per game rushing and have surrendered the second most touchdowns on the ground (15) in 2019. One thing that Nebraska’s defense has going for them is that they are seventh in the conference with 50 tackles for loss that have accounted for negative-207 yards. The Hoosiers will have to key on linebacker JoJo Domann who has 6.5 tackles for loss and defensive lineman Khalil Davis who is right behind him at six tackles for loss.

With Penix’s health in question, the Hoosiers’ running game becomes much more important. Even if Penix starts, having a strong performance on the ground is vital to grab a road victory.

The Huddle

Week Nine Matchup to Watch: Indiana's Running Game vs. Nebraska's Rush Defense

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