Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 101 Days (Overview)

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

We are currently 100 days away from the scheduled kickoff of Indiana’s 2020 season on September 4th against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. The future of college football is still up in the air, but we at Hoosier Huddle are starting the countdown until informed otherwise. The NCAA Division I Council has approved voluntary workouts beginning June 1, however there has been no official date announced for when IUFB will be starting back up. 2020 is poised to be another big year for Indiana football as they look to prove that 2019 was not just a fluke or a product of getting lucky with their crossover games.

To get the Hoosier Huddle Countdown to Kickoff started here are 10 things we are looking forward to during the 2020 Indiana football season:

1. Enjoying Live College Football with our Readers

We have all missed the ritual of live sports. It will be great to get back to that whenever it comes. College football is a unique experience because fans have a vested interest in the team. As an alumnus of a school, one feels like they’re a part of the team and the passion runs deeper than that of a professional team. With or without fans in attendance for games, getting to share our thoughts on the games with our readers is something we are really looking forward to.

2. Watching a Football Team With Elevated Expectations

The Hoosiers are coming off an eight-win season and a berth into the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. The Hoosiers return much of that production (11th most returning production according to SP+) and are getting a healthy Michael Penix back, so the expectations for the 2020 team are elevated. ESPN.com’s Football Power Index (FPI) has Indiana ranked 23rd in their preseason numbers and Bill Connelly’s SP+ has Indiana sitting at 27th. Both project Indiana to have another winning season and find themselves back in the postseason.

I want to see how the Hoosiers respond to not being able to fly under the radar and how the fan base responds to expectations. It will be hard to judge the fan base on attendance since the COVID-19 virus will have an impact on attending games in some shape or form, but it’ll be interesting to see how bought in the fan base is.

3. Great Young Talent

As I mentioned above the Hoosiers ranked 11th nationally in returning production in SP+ and that is a major reason why the expectations are high in Bloomington. The Hoosiers feature some fantastic young talent on both sides of the ball. While the offense is anchored by upperclassmen Whop Philyor, Ty Fryfogle and Stevie Scott, it will feature redshirt sophomore quarterback Michael Penix, sophomore running back Sampson James and sophomore all-purpose back David Ellis, who was having a fantastic spring session before it was cancelled.

On defense, the Hoosiers return a secondary that features sophomore Tiawan Mullen, IU’s best cover corner, and junior Jamar Johnson who played the husky position last season. Johnson made two interceptions and 4.5 tackles for loss in 2019.

4. New Opponents

The Hoosiers will face three “new” opponents in 2020 in Illinois (11/14), Western Kentucky (9/12) and Wisconsin (9/4). These aren’t teams that IU has not seen before, but it’s been a while. The Hoosiers last hosted Illinois and traveled to Wisconsin in 2013 while Western Kentucky came to Bloomington in 2015. The Hoosiers have won three-in-a-row against the Illini, but still trail the all-time series 25-45-2. Illinois, led by coach Lovie Smith, is coming off a 6-7 season where they played in the Red Box Bowl.

The Badgers have been a nightmare for the Hoosiers since the turn of the century. The Hoosiers have not beaten Wisconsin since 2002 and most of those games haven’t been close. The Hoosiers trail the all-time series 18-41-2. The Badgers are coming off a 10-4 season that included a Big Ten West Title and a Rose Bowl berth.

Western Kentucky and IU have played three times previously with the Hoosiers winning all three. The Hilltoppers are off a 9-4 season that included a First Responders Bowl win over Western Michigan.

5. Hosting the Old Oaken Bucket and Old Brass Spittoon Games

Trophy games are a staple of college football, especially in the Big Ten. In even numbered years, the Hoosiers host both of their trophy games. The last time the Hoosiers won both trophy games in a season was in 2016.

The battle for the Old Brass Spittoon (10/24) has been hotly contested recently, although the Hoosiers have one just once since 2007 (2016). The Spartans are coming off a 7-6 season that ended in a Pinstripe Bowl win, but will be breaking in a new coaching staff after Mark Dantonio retired over the winter. The Hoosiers trail the series with the Spartans 16-47-2.

The Old Oaken Bucket Game (11/28) has favored the Hoosiers since 2010, but the Boilermakers and Hoosiers have split the last four matchups. Purdue beat IU 28-21 in their last trip to Memorial Stadium, but dropped a classic 44-41 2OT game in West Lafayette last season. This game is always fun and could be a battle between two bowl bound teams in 2020. The Hoosiers still trail the series 41-74-6.

6. A Healthy and Bulked up Michael Penix

2019 was supposed to be the breakout year for IU quarterback Michael Penix, but injuries limited him to six games and saw Peyton Ramsey lead the Hoosiers to eight wins. Penix spent the offseason bulking up and recovering. He looked thicker in spring ball before it was cancelled. While fans will hold their breath until Penix can prove he can survive an entire season, the talent is undeniable. A healthy Penix has a chance to become just the fifth IU quarterback to throw for 3,000 or more yards and with a big enough season a run at Nate Sudfeld’s single-season mark of 3,573 yards passing could be in reach.

7. Whop’s Chase For IU History

Indiana wide receiver has a chance to become the top pass catcher in Indiana football history. Philyor enters the 2020 season with 127 career receptions, just outside of Indiana’s top-10 all-time. The current career leader in receptions for IU is James Hardy who made 191 catches from 2005-07. Philyor, who will be a senior in 2020, made 70 catches in 12 games in 2019. Another 70 catch season will put Philyor at 197 catches, needing just three receptions to be the first IU receiver to hit the 200-receptions plateau.

8. Stevie Scott and Sampson James in the Backfield

It looked for a few days that this backfield combination would never come to fruition as Sampson James briefly entered the transfer portal before returning to IU. Scott will enter fall camp as the first team running back since he has earned that honor by running for 1,982 yards and 20 touchdowns during his first two seasons. Now a junior, Scott, will try and get back to the 1,000-yard rushing club after falling just shy again in 2019 because injuries held him out the Hoosiers final two games.

James burst onto the scene filling in for Scott in the Old Oaken Bucket game against Purdue. James ran for 118 yards on 22 carries in the win over Purdue. He played in 13 games and started both the game against Purdue and the bowl game against Tennessee. James ran 81 times for 275 yards and three touchdowns last season and should only see his role increase.

With the emergence of James, the burden on Scott can be reduced and maybe both running backs can finish the year healthy. The last time the Hoosiers had two running backs break the 1,000 yards rushing mark was in 2015 when both Jordan Howard and Devine Redding did it.

9. Potentially Loaded Linebacker Room

The Hoosiers lose linebacker Reakwon Jones, 55 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss, from the line up in 2020. However, the Hoosiers return everyone else. Junior Micah McFadden led IU in tackles a year ago with 61, including 10 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Replacing Jones, could be Cam Jones. Cam Jones made 35 tackles with 4.5 tackles for loss and had a pick six. Jones battled injuries early in the season, but is a game changer when he is on the field. He has a nose for the ball and creates takeaways.

The Hoosiers have depth and talent in reserve as well. James Miller will be a redshirt sophomore after making 31 tackles (4.5 TFLs) in 2019, he also can take over for the departed Reakwon Jones. Aaron Casey flashed his potential as well on special teams and at linebacker as he made five tackles and blocked a punt. D.K. Bonhomme played in 11 games as a true freshman, mainly on special teams, but he will be bigger and stronger and looking for a bigger role.

Thomas Allen, who had season ending shoulder surgery, could be back as well after making 17 tackles in eight games.

10. Impact Grad Transfers

While the Hoosiers have lost some talent to the transfer portal, they also received reinforcements at some need positions. Two Stanford graduate transfers are in Bloomington in offensive lineman Dylan Powell and defensive lineman Jovan Swann. The Hoosiers need to replace two starters on the interior of their line and Powell can fit in at either guard position or even at center.

Swann, from Greenwood, Indiana, gives the Hoosiers some much needed talent and depth in the middle of their line. Swann has 85 career tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks to his name. The Hoosiers need to improve their pass rush and Swann gives them a player who can apply pressure up the middle.

Our fingers are crossed that the 2020 season will take place. It could be a big one in Bloominton and we are excited to share it with you.