Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 11th ranked Indiana Hoosiers entered the 35th edition of the Outback Bowl as favorites over the explosive Ole Miss Rebels from the Southeastern Conference. Despite a desperation to end the 30-year bowl drought, IU was unable to rise to the challenge and fell 26-20 to the Ole Miss Rebels in Tampa, Florida.

The Rebels began the game with the ball and quickly marched into IU territory. A long completion from Matt Corral set Ole Miss inside the ten-yard line but an unsportmanslike conduct penalty on a Rebels offensive lineman moved them back to the 17-yard line and they had to settle for a field goal from Luke Logan to make it 3-0. Indiana moved the ball with a couple of first downs on its first possession but they were unable to get into scoring territory and had to punt the ball to Ole Miss. The Rebels did not get any traction with their second possession and they gave the ball back to Indiana at the 19-yard line. The Hoosiers nearly got the ball inside the five-yard line but a catch by Miles Marshall was ruled incomplete and Charles Campbell was forced to attempt a 50-yard field goal. The sophomore kicker nailed it to tie the game at three. Once again, Ole Miss moved the ball quickly through the air. The Rebels were stymied in the red zone and Luke Logan made another short field goal to put Ole Miss ahead 6-3. IU went three and out and punted back to Ole Miss. They converted a pair of fourth and short attempts and Matt Corral lobbed a short pass to a wide-open Casey Kelly in the end zone to make it 13-3. The Hoosiers were struggling mightily with the attacking tempo from Lane Kiffin’s side and had no answers. IU gave them the ball back with less than two minutes remaining in the first half and then blocked a Luke Logan field goal as the first half clock expired. Jack Tuttle injured his shoulder and IU looked lost on both sides of the ball as they headed to the locker room.

Jack Tuttle stayed in the game but was clearly uncomfortable as the second half began. IU moved the ball across midfield with the aid of a pair of pass interception penalties by Ole Miss defenders and Charles Campbell impressively blasted a 53-yard field goal to make it 13-6. Undaunted, the Rebels quickly answered with a terrific drive. They marched 88 yards, capped off by a 33-yard from Snoop Conner and then a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 20-6. The Hoosiers hole grew deeper as Whop Philyor fumbled the ball near midfield and gave possession back to Ole Miss. IU’s defense refused to give up though as they forced a three and out and took the ball back over at the 25 yard-line. The Hoosiers turned to the rushing attack and found some success. It took a pair of fourth-down conversions but they eventually got inside the five-yard line and scored on the first play of the final quarter with a Stevie Scott touchdown run to make it 20-13. Ole Miss responded to the comeback attempt with a nice-looking drive but IU’s defense stiffened at the edge of the red zone and Ole Miss missed a 37-yard field goal attempt wide. Indiana took over at the 20-yard line with more than ten minutes remaining and the change in momentum could be clearly felt. A nice catch by Miles Marshall and a pass interference penalty on a deep ball to Ty Fryfogle set IU up in Ole Miss territory. The Hoosiers faced a fourth and two with 8:05 left and executed a play action pass to Whop Philyor to convert the first down and Stevie Scott plowed into the end zone for his second touchdown of the quarter. With 5:58 remaining in the contest, the Hoosiers had tied the game. A penalty after the extra point against IU’s Tim Weaver gave Ole Miss an extra 15-yards to work with on their ensuing possession and they took over at the 37-yard line with 5:51 remaining. A pair of receptions for John Rhys Plumlee quickly moved the ball inside the five-yard line for the Rebels and Dontario Drummond caught a fastball from Matt Corral for the go-ahead score with 4:12 remaining but Luke Logan missed the extra point and the score was 26-20. IU began the drive at the 25-yard line and Stevie Scott ran for a first down and David Ellis moved the ball across midfield on a slant across the middle. Jack Tuttle took a sack that set up a third and 18 at the Ole Miss 41-yard line. Tuttle threw it incomplete to Whop Philyor and IU’s fourth and 18 prayer was not answered as Tuttle’s pass fell harmlessly to the turf.

Matt Corral threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns and IU lost the turnover battle two to zero. Whop Philyor had a Big Ten bowl record 18 receptions but he only had 82 yards in a very inefficient outing. Stevie Scott was IU’s offensive leader but it ultimately was not enough and the Hoosiers bowl drought continues. IU finished the season 6-2 and Hoosier Huddle will have continuing coverage of the fallout from this disappointing defeat in Tampa.

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Hoosiers Fall To Rebels in Outback Bowl 26-20

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