Our final first-round matchups come in the Memorial Region.

1. George Taliaferro vs. 16. Alex Smith

1 – George Taliaferro

Starred for Gary Roosevelt High School and then was the leading rusher for Indiana
Led IU to their only undefeated Big Ten championship.
Only three-time All-American in school history
Led the Hoosiers in rushing twice, punting in 1945 and passing in 1948.
Broke the color barrier in the sport as the first African-American to star in the Big Ten and the first to be drafted by an NFL team.

16 – Alex Smith

Ran for 3,024 yards as a senior at Franklin County High School.
Rushed for 1,475 yards as a redshirt freshman and was named Second-team All-Big Ten.
Beat Purdue three times under Coach Bill Mallory.
Ran for 3,492 yards (then third best behind Anthony Thompson and Antwaan Randle El) during his career.

8. Bo McMillin vs. 9. Griffin Oakes

8 – Bo McMillin

Coached Indiana from 1934 to 1947.
Won 63 games and led the Hoosiers to the 1945 Big Ten championship, IU’s only unbeaten Big Ten season.
National Coach of the Year in 1945 and a member of the National Football Hall of Fame.

9 – Griffin Oakes

Oakes ended his career as IU’s leader in field goals (69) and second in total points (354).
Made 69 of 90 field goals and 147 of 154 PATs.
Only kicker in IU history to win the Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year twice.
One of two kickers in program history to be named First Team All-Big Ten on two occasions.

5. Jason Spriggs vs. 12. Tim Wilbur

5 – Jason Spriggs

Started 28 consecutive games to start his career and started 47 of 48 games at left tackle.
Earned All-America recognition for his 2015 senior season when he allowed just two sacks in 475 pass attempts.
First Outland Trophy semifinalist in school history.
Drafted by Green Bay Packers in 2016 NFL Draft.

12 – Tim Wilbur

Three-sport standout at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis.
Played cornerback and returned punts for head coach Lee Corso from 1978-1981.
Most Valuable Player of the 1979 Holiday Bowl victory over unbeaten BYU.
All-Big Ten honors in 1979 and 1980 and a second-team All-American in 1980.
School record eight interceptions in 1979 and 19 interceptions in his career.

4. John Pont vs. 13. Bill Hilenbrand

4 – John Pont

Head coach at Miami University, Yale University, Northwestern University and Indiana University.
Still the only coach to take Indiana to the Rose Bowl.
From 1965 to 1972, Pont went 31-51-1. Overall, not glorious but the 1967 season saw him named National Coach of the Year and his Hoosiers went to Pasadena, losing to USC.
Member of the Indiana Athletic Hall of Fame.

13 – Bill Hillenbrand

One of the best two season stretches in IU football history as he dominated 1941 and 1942.
In 1941, he was the club’s leading passer and earned third team All-America honors.
In 1942, he was IU’s leading rusher and leading passer and earned first-team All-America honors.
Finished fifth-place in the 1942 Heisman Trophy voting.

6. John Isenbarger vs. 11. Vern Huffman

6 – John Isenbarger

Narrowly lost out to Harry Gonso for the starting quarterback job in 1967. Was moved to tailback and starred on the 1967 Rose Bowl squad.
One of four Indiana football players to earn first-team All-America recognition in two different seasons.
Averaged five yards per carry for his career.
Was also the starting punter for the Hoosiers.
First-team All-Big Ten in 1969.

11 – Vern Huffman

Played both football and basketball at Indiana from 1933-1936.
All-American in both football and basketball.
Was given the “Silver Football” honor by the Chicago Tribune in 1936, honor given to the best football player in the Big Ten.
Played two seasons for the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938.

3. Tegray Scales vs. 14. Donnie Thomas

3 – Tegray Scales

Finished third in IU history with 46 tackles for loss, sixth with 18 career sacks and 10th with 325 tackles.
Earned first team All-Big Ten honors in 2017 and second-team in 2016.
Was the first IU linebacker since 1987 to earn All-America honors.
Named team’s MVP in 2017.

14 – Donnie Thomas

Star linebacker from 1973 to 1975.
First-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-America in 1975.
Led the team in tackles twice (1975 and 1973) and was the team’s MVP in 1974 and 1975.
Finished with a then-IU record of 369 tackles (still third in school history).
Drafted by New England Patriots.

7. Shane Wynn vs. 10. Pete Stoyonovich

7 – Shane Wynn

Shane Wynn finished his career tied for second in receptions (189), third in kick return yardage and tied for third in receiving touchdowns.
Top ten in a number of categories in receiving and special teams.
Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors.
Only Hoosier with a receiving, rushing, kick return and punt return touchdown in his career.

10 – Pete Stoyonovich

Played football from 1985-1988 and soccer from 1985-1987.
All-Big Ten in 1988 and Second-Team All-American in 1987.
Set IU records for field goals in a season with 17 and extra points in a season with 45 in 1988.
Kicked for 12 years in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs

2 – James Hardy

Redshirted in 2004 and played 2005-2007.
Freshman All-America selection after catching 61 passes for 893 yards with ten touchdowns.
Second-team All-Big Ten as a redshirt freshman and redshirt sophomore.
First-team All-Big Ten and Fred Biletnikoff semifinalist in 2007 with 74 catches for 1,075 yards.
Finished as leader in receiving touchdowns (36), yards (2,690) and receptions (186).

15 – Tim Clifford

Co-Captain in 1079 and 1980.
Most Valuable Player at IU in 1979 as IU won the Holiday Bowl and in 1980.
Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1979.
Ranks third all-time in IU career passing yards.
MVP of the East-West Shrine Game.

The Huddle

Indiana Football's Best of All-Time: Memorial Region