Written by: TJ Inman
What: #9 Indiana Hoosiers (8-1) vs. #18 USC Trojans (7-2)
When: Saturday, November 14 at 3:30
Where: Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN
How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on CBS and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.
Spread and Total: IU -8.5 | 50.5
Series History: The Indiana Hoosiers have never beaten the USC Trojans on the gridiron. Granted, the two have only played four times with every meeting coming between 1953 and 1982 but this is yet another opportunity for Curt Cignetti to rewrite IU’s football record book. The most points Indiana has ever scored against USC is 14 and the Hoosiers lost by double digits each time the two teams met.
What’s at Stake: The Indiana Hoosiers had a desperately needed bye week and you certainly hope they were able to use it well because the results during IU’s week off were not at all helpful. Northwestern, Minnesota, Nebraska and Michigan each lost in disappointing fashion and Ohio State’s freefall (now just 6-5 in their last 11 games) continued with a loss to Oregon. In short, IU’s resume took a big hit while the team rested at home. Now, if the Hoosiers take care of business and win out, that won’t matter at all and Indiana will be playing in the Big Ten Championship Game for a second consecutive season with a shot at a bye in the College Football Playoff. That written, a loss to USC would leave Indiana with two defeats and no major quality wins. Lincoln Riley’s future is still cloudy but his team is right in the middle of the CFP hunt and a win in Bloomington would set up a massive showdown against UCLA to close the regular season for both squads. A defeat would all but eliminate the Trojans from contention.
A Few Things to Look For
- What Can the Bye Week Fix?
Indiana is 8-1 and ranked ninth in the country. By nearly any measure, the Hoosiers are in the midst of another incredibly successful season. That written, when using the incredibly high bar that has been set by Curt Cignetti as the head coach in Bloomington, Indiana entered the bye week with glaring deficiencies. The special teams unit has largely been a disaster with major issues punting the ball, missing field goals and the general lack of a return game. The offense has been unable to run the ball successfully on the right side and the passing game has, through a combination of performance and injury issues, is unreliable and inconsistent. Yes, the bye week will undoubtedly help the Hoosiers recuperate and recover from the accumulated bumps and bruises of playing nine straight games but how much did the extra week of evaluation and practice heal the special teams and offensive woes. Can Indiana get back to playing a more complementary style and not force the defense to play a near-perfect game to get a win? Who will be taking snaps as QB1? Have there been any offensive wrinkles introduced that can manufacture an explosive play or two? We’ll get our answers on Saturday afternoon.
2. IU’s Defense Will Be Tested
The USC Trojans have a whole lot of talented offensive firepower and they’ll give Indiana’s defense a stern test. Indiana has one of the few consistently elite units in the country: no team has scored more than 23 points on IU this season (Northwestern) and the Wildcats are the only team to exceed 17. IU remains fantastic against the run and the secondary has gotten much better with AJ Harris in the lineup. Jayden Maiava has thrown for 2,524 yards with 20 touchdowns and young receivers like Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt are emerging as future stars. Mark Bowman is a very capable tight end after being a celebrated five-star recruit and the Trojans have a strong one-two punch at tailback with King Miller and Waymond Jordan. Maiava is mobile enough to avoid pressure and watching Bryant Haines go against Lincoln Riley should be well worth everyone’s time.
3. Protect Home Field
The USC Trojans are just 6-15 against ranked teams with Lincoln Riley leading the program and they have generally struggled to win when leaving the West Coast. In fact, the last time they traveled outside of California, they were shellacked by Wisconsin 24-7. This is Indiana’s last chance for a victory that could be labeled a “quality win” and despite the 8-1 record, IU slipping to ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings sends a very clear message to the Hoosiers: a loss to USC will eliminate your chance to return to the CFP for the third-straight season.
Other Indiana Football Stories From the Week
Chatter From the Other Sideline: USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley
Matchup To Watch: Indiana’s Quarterback(s) vs. USC’s Leaky Defense
Podcast: Week 11 Preview: No. 9 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 18 USC Trojans
Numbers that Matter: Indiana vs.USC
How Indiana Could Reshuffle the Line with Joe Brunner Out
IU Will Raise the Victory Flag Against USC If…
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Discover more from Hoosier Huddle
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.