@tr32 Wisconsin was set up as good as you can ask for by the B1G office. They got their bye weeks during week 5 & 10, and they also never had to play back to back road games this season. As for difficulty of the games on the schedule, the B1G slate was just bad luck of who ended up good (these schedules are made years in advance).
A lot of Wisconsin's issues stem from their AD being bad at their job, they signed them up for all sorts of ridiculous OOC matches. Wisconsin had no business doing a series with Alabama. Next year they play Notre Dame AND Pitt in OOC (meaning they only have 1 cupcake game).
@yothn I wish IU would play loose, agressive and fly around in these big games. Oregon, we did. Saturday, no. At Iowa, no. OSU, no. ND, no. We have a tendency to get tight in these games. I know that the talent level of the opponents changes things, but it seems like we let our opponents dictate the flow and playcalling too much.
IU was the team playing loose for a majority of the game and when it mattered at the end. It wasn't until late in the game that PSU made some aggressive plays and momentum suddenly swiung in their favor. It's an incredibly hard thing to turn around.
IU was loose against Illinois. Road games are always going to be a battle of breaking the will of the other team. IU got close but couldn't ever punch another score or 2 in the 3rd quarter to put it away.
@yothn I think we play much tighter against teams our own weight, we have a decent sample size at this point. We get much less aggressive throwing the ball and instead get very predictable. Against PSU, did we throw on a 1st down once before we *had* to?
Against OSU, ND, UM, and Iowa, we started all of those games throwing and being aggressive - and our opening drives were good in all of them. And then we retreated.
I would just like to see us throw more haymakers, we arent going to be able to bowl over playoff teams by simply running every 1/2nd down
My guess is the coaching staff wants to limit the negatives in such games against better talent, thinking that's the best way to win. That means avoiding TOs at all costs and playing a less aggressive defense, trying to keep everything in front of you and forcing the other team to make long, many play drives to score. I'd guess they also want to shorten the game so run more, but haven't looked at the stats in those games to check if this is right.@yothn I wish IU would play loose, agressive and fly around in these big games. Oregon, we did. Saturday, no. At Iowa, no. OSU, no. ND, no. We have a tendency to get tight in these games. I know that the talent level of the opponents changes things, but it seems like we let our opponents dictate the flow and playcalling too much.
Yeah, Cig in his presser called it out big time, that Wisconsin has had a very tough road with who they played.
And that is true. Of course, the flip side they did get smoked by several of them.
@hoosiers94 what gives with a bye week before the final game? With the injuries we've had, we could have really used it the last couple of weeks. A bye before the last game seems penalizing to that team. Seems to me, byes should be done at the latest, before the 2nd to last game to give a fair window for a rehabbed player to be back in the lineup. In our case, it might help us get healthy for the B10 championship, but that only impacts 2 teams.
I think everyone's forgotten by this point that we lost 1 of our top 2 backs after like the 2nd week. Then Sarratt, Fisher and Evans. Been bitten a bit more by the injury bug this year. Wasn't our kickoff kicker also injured for a game?
Beebe was our 3rd RB. Luckily for us, that's one of our deepest positions and Martin has performed admirably.
Our kickoff guy, Franke, is still out. I think it's been 3 games now? It happened on the opening kickoff vs. Michigan State I believe (or UCLA, but definitely one of the two).
So IU has a bye week because they play Purdue on a Friday night.
I didn't realize that. That's fvcked up. Can you imagine OSU/UM being scheduled on a Friday night? There would be an open revolt.
We are a tired team, IMO. We don't have quite the depth, so guys dinged or out hurts us a little more than the teams that have been powers longer.
But we're still tough as hell. Some relief appears on the horizon.
When the offense scores, we can beat anyone. Fernando, line, and receivers healthy is key.
Go Hoosiers.
I’d be fine with Cig resting starters in the B1G championship game. I want guys healthy and rested for the playoffs.
No way. Big Ten Championship! For me.
Bird in the hand. It's a major title that would be fantastic to see in the stadium!
After that the bye weeks should be enough for the second season. Don't want to get too rusty.
I'm guessing Coach Cig would like a first round bye in the CFP. That most likely doesn't happen If they get completely blown out in BIG championship. Need to win or at least keep it competitive. Preferably win.I’d be fine with Cig resting starters in the B1G championship game. I want guys healthy and rested for the playoffs.
Last year, we had 8 home games. Michigan also had 8 home games in 2024. They played their first 5 at home. There may have been a couple other teams. This year we have 7. In 2025, I don’t believe any team in the conference can have more than 7 home games.
It’s certainly an odd schedule:
4 of the first 4 at home
2 of the next 4 on the road
1 of the last 4 at home.
i think this schedule with us playing 5 of 8 games on the road has certainly galvanized this group. We have been road warriors since game 5. It’s certainly built a lot of mental toughness with this group.
I'm guessing Coach Cig would like a first round bye in the CFP. That most likely doesn't happen If they get completely blown out in BIG championship. Need to win or at least keep it competitive. Preferably win.I’d be fine with Cig resting starters in the B1G championship game. I want guys healthy and rested for the playoffs.
It’s going to be the top 2 Big Ten teams and the top 2 SEC teams. I think regardless of the championship outcomes, that’s how it will shake out. You’ll have 2 teams (one from each conference) with a loss in that bye round. Who would leapfrog them?
Georgia or Ole Miss with one less game but already sitting with a loss.
Texas Tech who lost to Arizona State?
I’m not seeing it. They say the championship games won’t penalize teams. I guess we’ll see if they want a balance with the Big Ten and SEC. If they put in a 1 loss SEC team not playing in the championship game ahead of a Big Ten team with its only loss in its conference championship, hardly seems fair.
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