2021 Countdown to Kickoff: 101 Days (Overview)

Writren by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

It’s late May and that means it is time for the seventh annual Hoosier Huddle Countdown to IUFB Kickoff. The Hoosiers open the 2021 season 101 days from today in Iowa City on September 4th against the Hawkeyes. The matchup up is much anticipated from IU fans as Iowa should be ranked highly in the top 25 when the polls come out.

The Hoosier Huddle countdown will focus on the players that on the current IU roster corresponding to their numbers from spring practice. As always, Anthony Thompson and Antwaan Randle-El are included as well. This is our way of giving the Hoosier fans a chance to learn a little bit about this year’s Hoosier squad day-by-day leading up to the season opener, but first here are 10 things Hoosier fans should be excited about for the 2021 season. 

1. Likely Top-25 Game to Open the Season- There is plenty of buzz about the 2021 Indiana football season after the Hoosiers posted back-to-back winning seasons and bowl bids. IU will hit the ground running as they head to Iowa City to face the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium on September 4th. Both teams are anticipated to be in the AP Top 25 to start the season. Iowa finished the season 6-2 and in second place in the Big Ten West, but had their bowl game cancelled due to COVID. It’ll be the first time the Hoosiers open the season with a ranked foe since 2017, when IU hosted Ohio State. IU has not opened a season against a ranked opponent on the road since a 1991 trip to Notre Dame.

2. High Expectations for IUFB- As it is stated above the Hoosiers should come into the 2021 season ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since the 1968 season. After back-to-back winning seasons and 14 wins over the last two years the expectations for the Hoosiers are sky-high.

High expectations has their benefits and drawbacks. IU is no longer going to sneak up on people anymore, however the buzz around the program is palpable and that’s worth the price of being the hunted. It has been a long time since IU has come into the season with a realistic shot at the Big Ten crown, which is why Tom Allen’s one word for the year is ‘Chase’. Can the Hoosiers compete for a title? Can they finish a season with a bowl win for the first time since 1991? It remains to be seen, but the energy is there.

3. Renewed Series with Cincinnati- After 21 years the Hoosiers and Bearcats are renewing their series with the first leg of a home-and-home. IU hosts Cincinnati on Sept. 19th for the first time since 2000. The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 9-3-2 and currently hold a five-game winning streak. It’s a series that is regional and both teams could be in the top-15 by game day, which will lead to a great crowd.

4. Fans in the Stands?– The plan is to have fans, IU wouldn’t be pushing ticket sales if it weren’t. How many fans is yet to be seen, but full capacity is on the table. The pandemic robbed IU fans of a special 2020 season, so it will be awesome when the faithful come back to Memorial Stadium on September 11th when the Hoosiers host Idaho. The crowds should be good for the Hoosiers who have had back-to-back winning seasons and bowl appearances and a likely top-25 team returning in 2021.

5. IU Hosting Ohio State- Hoosier fans usually have this game circled every other year, but after the Big Ten changed the rules for the Buckeyes to play in the Big Ten title game despite not playing the agreed upon amount of games has the Hoosier faithful angry. IU was close to shocking the Buckeyes in Columbus in 2020. With the Buckeyes are breaking in a new quarterback and a pro-Hoosier crowd could 2021 be the year IU breaks this losing streak?

6. Old Oaken Bucket Game- Once again COVID-19 robbed Hoosier fans of a great opportunity when outbreaks within both the IU and Purdue programs cancelled the Old Oaken Bucket game for the first time since it’s inception in 1925. This year’s game will be in West Lafayette, which means Memorial Stadium will have to wait until 2022 to host the game again. If IU is where they want to be at the end of the season, Hoosier fans will make the drive to West Lafayette for the chance to see them beat the Boilermakers again.

7. Chance to Win the Old Brass Spittoon at Home- The Hoosiers took home the Old Brass Spittoon last season when they defeated Michigan State 24-0 in East Lansing. However, IU has not won in Bloomington since 2016 and this year offers the Hoosiers an opportunity to win a trophy game in front of their fans at home.

8. Tailgating- One of the greatest parts of college football Saturdays is the tailgate scenes and the moment that it can happen again will be a happy reunion for tailgate ‘families’ who have been apart for nearly two years. IU has a solid tailgate season that will be turned up a notch when the restrictions are lifted. I, for one, cannot wait to interact with our readers and fellow Hoosier and college football fans in person again.

9. Drivable Road Games- Can’t get a ticket to see the Hoosiers in Bloomington? Well the Hoosiers have quite a few drivable road trips in 2021. The Hoosiers open the season in Iowa City on a holiday weekend, which for the Hoosier fans to the west offer a now rare trip out to that area. For the southern IU fans, the Hoosiers travel to Bowling Green, KY to take on Western Kentucky, an easy trip down I-65 from Indianapolis as well. For the folks to the north, Michigan is an easy drive up I-69 and a bucket list venue to visit.

10. The Future is Bright- After going 14-7 over the last two seasons and playing in back-to-back January bowl games the Hoosiers are seeing the fruits of success on the recruiting trail. We will know more over the next month, but the 2022 and 2023 classes have the potential to carry IU onto the next level of continued success. Recruits will be on campus in June and hopefully in the stadium on Saturdays. This is a tremendous chance for the fan base to show off what IU can be when winning football happens. The facilities are great, but hearing the roar of 52,000-plus IU fans on Saturday will help push it over the top for some prospects.