Three non-conference games are in the books for both Illinois and Indiana, and now the true tests begin. Indiana will welcome the Illini to Bloomington for the first ranked versus ranked matchup between the two since October 28th of 1950, a matchup in which #12 Illinois took down #19 Hoosiers in Champaign.
There are a lot of intriguing storylines entering this game, as was expected. This has been a matchup that both teams have had circled on their schedules all offseason, as media projected the CFP darling from last season and the preseason CFP dark horse to clash in an early season matchup. Add in that this game is now under the lights and nationally broadcast on NBC in front of a sold out Memorial Stadium, and this has all the makings to be a thriller.
I could go any number of ways with the matchup to watch heading into this game, but ultimately I believe the matchup to watch will be the Indiana offensive line versus the Illinois defensive front seven. The Hoosiers offensive line has looked like one of the strongest units in the country thus far, but there were certainly times last year I felt the same before they went up against tougher competition.
Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame’s defensive fronts all had their way with the Indiana offensive line last year and I think directly led to two of those three matchups ending up in losses. If Indiana is to show they are a different team than last season against better competition, it’ll start in the trenches.
“Last year, before the season started, we were playing favorite in three games,” said Curt Cignetti at his Monday presser. “We were picked 17th out of 18 teams. So every Big Ten game that we went into, we were an underdog before the season started, maybe with the exception of Purdue. So last year’s in the books. It’s a new year. This is a good football team. We’re a good football team.”
They’ll be lined up against a good football team as well, a team trying to prove that their 10-3 season last year was no fluke either. They boast a well-balanced team this year coming into the game, but with allowing 7.3 points per game and already pitching one shutout, the defense stands out to me.
Opponents have gained just 4.56 yads per play and rushed for 2.64 yards per attempt through their three games against Western Michigan, Western Illinois, and Duke. Leading the way for the Illini up front? 6’6, 300-pound defensive lineman James Thompson Jr.
“James Thompson, by far and established, is our best defensive lineman,” said head coach Bret Bielema on Monday. “Obviously a couple edge guys that are really good players, but in that defensive line room James has really continued two games back to back playing extremely well.”
The Athlon Preseason-All Big Ten fourth team nominee has started off the year with eight tackles already and shown to be a strong run stopper. He has also opened holes for Miles Scott and Malachi Hood, both who have already accumulated 14 tackles, along with Gabe Jacas, who has 4 tackles for loss.
If Indiana is to notch a resume-boosting win this Saturday, it will all start in the trenches – giving Fernando Mendoza time to find playmakers in the passing game, and once again opening up holes for another strong game in the rushing attack. It is certainly a matchup I’ll be watching this weekend.
The Hoosiers kick off against the Illini Saturday on Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium at 7:30 EST.