Rise and shine Tailgaters; it’s Gameday! Welcome back to Hoosier Huddle’s newest weekly column: Tidbits for the Tailgate. Each week I’ll break down what you need to know before you head to the lots at Memorial Stadium: from players to watch, to what’s happening in other games, to tips for a successful tailgate.

What You Missed Last Week

Was it Good?

It wouldn’t be a college football weekend without controversy and armchair experts, and last Friday did not disappoint. After a back-and-forth game, Virginia Tech had the opportunity to kick a potentially game-winning field goal as time expired. At first glance it appeared as though the kick was good, and Hokies kicker John Love began to celebrate as though it was. The refs, however, ruled the kick no good, giving Pitt a 35-33 win. A week later and the internet still remains divided on if the kick was good. You be the judge.

Tigers Triumph Over Gators

Missouri got a huge ranked win on Saturday over the 8th-ranked Florida Gators. The Tigers looked impressive all game long as they flexed their muscles on their way to a 45-17 win. For Missouri, this win snaps their nine-game losing streak against ranked opponents and hands Florida their first loss under head coach Jon Sumrall.

New Faces, New Places

Boise State and Utah State played their first game as in-conference rivals in a new conference last Saturday. The two schools played their inaugural Pac-12 conference game. Unfortunately for Utah State, the Pac-12 was as kind to them as the Mountain West was. The Aggies lost their 11th straight game against Boise State, 37-18.

Ski-U-Mah

Fresh off wiping his own player’s blood on his face, PJ Fleck and the Minnesota Gophers continued to roll against a struggling Michigan team. The Gophers forced interceptions on back-to-back plays, which led to Michigan only possessing the ball for 55 seconds in the third quarter. For Minnesota, their 20-14 victory is their first victory at home over Michigan since 1977 as they celebrated with the Little Brown Jug.

Hoosiers’ Matchup

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Campus: Lincoln, Nebraska

Mascot: Cornhuskers/Big Red/Herbie the Husker

Record This Season: 5-0

2025 Record: 7-6 (Lost to Utah in Las Vegas Bowl)

Series Record: Indiana is 11-9-3 against Nebraska

Head Coach: Matt Rhule (4th Season at Nebraska, 24-19 record)

Conference: Big Ten

What to Watch For

Keep Colandrea Off the Field

Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea has been having a great start to the season for the Cornhuskers. The UNLV transfer has passed for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns with a completion percentage of 65.7%. For the Hoosiers, the best possible defense will be on offense. If Indiana can put together long, methodical drives that limit Colandrea’s time of possession, they will put themselves in a great position.

Silence the Crowd

Memorial Stadium (the Nebraska version) is a famously tough place to play. The Cornhuskers constantly play in front of sellout crowds that get very loud. The Hoosiers are going to have to play disciplined to avoid false start penalties. Hitting a couple big plays to take the crowd out of the game will help the Hoosiers execute their offense at a high level.

Force Penalties

Nebraska is one of the most penalized teams in college football this season, averaging 9.8 penalties and 80.5 penalty yards per game. Last week against Maryland, the Huskers had 16 penalties for 132 yards. If the Hoosiers can force the Huskers to play undisciplined, they can make their lives easier while also taking the crowd out of the game.

Tailgate Tip of the Week

Hit Up Haymarket

The historic Haymarket District of Lincoln is a great place to spend both the evening before and the evening after the game. The district gets its name from the Haymarket that it was home to in the 1860s, but today it is home to many trendy shops, restaurants, and bars. If you’re in town the night before, be sure to get dinner at Misty’s Steakhouse and Brewery on Havelock. Every Friday evening since the 1970s Misty’s Pep Band (made up of members of the Cornhusker Marching Band) plays the school’s fight songs.

Try a Runza

If you’ve never been to Lincoln, or anywhere in Nebraska for that matter, you have to try a Runza. Founded in Lincoln in 1949, Runza became famous for their “Original Runza Sandwich,” a mix of ground beef, cabbage, and onions; it’s basically a Nebraskan cheesesteak and the perfect tailgate food.