Written By: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

By almost all accounts, it was not a highlight day for the Indiana offense. Their red zone scoring streak was snapped, Penix threw two interceptions, and they were left scoreless in the second half despite numerous drives with plus field position.

But for Ty Fryfogle, it was a day full of records.

One week after a Michigan game in which the senior wideout logged a career-best 142 receiving yards, Fryfogle one-upped himself this week with 200 receiving yards. He had just 224 this season coming into the game.

“It doesn’t matter what people say,” said Fryfogle postgame. “We are getting better each week.”

Though this may not be obvious with the rest of the Hoosier offense, it certainly is true for him.

Fryfogle had a good junior season, but he showed to be most productive when Peyton Ramsey was under center. There was uncertainty as to whether he really had a connection with Michael Penix. That fear lingered even with the season opening upset victory over Penn State, as he logged just two receptions for 27 yards.

Today, that narrative has been completely silenced. Fryfogle has averaged 132 yards per game over his last three and scored 4 touchdowns over the same span.

“With Mike on the field, you better be alert. He can get you the ball anywhere,” Fryfogle added about his quarterback.

This was most noticeable in Fryfogle’s second touchdown of the game, when Penix placed a perfect pass on his back shoulder away from the defender. Fryfogle spun to make the grab, kept his feet in bounds, and scampered down the sideline 65 yards for a score.

Yet despite the difficult catch and athleticism shown to keep his balance along the sideline and continue downfield on that scoring play, it was actually the easier of his two scores. His first score came on a screen pass that Michigan State had appeared to have blown up. However, Fryfogle kept his legs pushing forward and suddenly burst out of a group of three Spartan tacklers and dove for the pylon to give Indiana a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.

These were just two of his eleven catches on the day, as he had his way against the Spartan defense all afternoon. By game’s end, Fryfogle and Indiana had their first win on the road in East Lansing since 2001 and notched their first 4-0 start in Big Ten play since 1987.

“Coach Allen, when he came to my home, persuaded us that this was a program on the rise. Best decision I ever made.”

He and the Hoosiers will look for another program-defining victory next week in their season’s hardest test, as Tom Allen and crew travel to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes.

The Huddle

Fryfogle's Big Day Powers Hoosiers Offense Early in Win Over Michigan State

Hoosier Huddle