Inside the Numbers: Indiana Hoosiers at Nebraska Cornhuskers

Written by: Nate Comp (@NathanComp1)

Each game week, we will take a further look into the stats to preview Indiana’s upcoming matchup. This week the Hoosiers (3-1) will head to Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium to take on the 1-3 Cornhuskers. Nebraska has been a bit of a mess this year; Scott Frost has already been fired as head coach and the program is in a bit of a spiral. If Indiana can pull off the win this Saturday, it will have been more than a year since the Cornhuskers’ last win over an FBS team. That being said, it feels like a must-win for Indiana in their pursuit of bowl eligibility. Let’s take a look at the stats that may come into play during this weekend’s matchup.

280.5 and 233.5

Nebraska was on a bye last week, but it was not radio silence coming out of Lincoln. A day after the Cornhuskers’ 35-point loss to Oklahoma, Nebraska fired defensive coordinator Erik Chinander. Chinander had arrived with Frost in 2018 from UCF, and ultimately suffered the same fate. Interim head coach Mickey Joseph has appointed special teams coordinator Bill Busch to take over defensive play calling duties.

"Chinander is a good man and a good coach, but the numbers did not add up," Joseph said. "I did not see us getting better. For four weeks, I did not see us getting better from week one to week four. I had to make a decision, the best decision for the kids because it is about the boys."

Busch will have a steep hill to climb; Nebraska ranks 115th nationally in pass defense (280.5 yards per game) and 127th in rushing defense (233.5 yards per game). It has only held one of its first four opponents under 30 points. In back-to-back weeks, the Cornhusker defense surrendered 94 points and over 1200 total yards. Time will only tell if the bye week was enough to turn the tide.

72.22

Much has been said about the new pace of the Indiana offense under offensive coordinator Walt Bell, but I think the offensive criticism is misguided. Indiana is producing over 400 yards of total offense per game and is continuing to put stress on the defense by running more offensive plays (337) than all but one team in the nation. What the Indiana offense has to improve on is their redzone efficiency; Indiana is scoring points on just 72.22 percent of their redzone opportunities. Only 44% (8 of 18) of trips have resulted in touchdowns.

“We haven't finished drives,” said Tom Allen. “That's a big focus, it's got to be. You got to score touchdowns in the red zone. Obviously, field goals at minimum.” 

75.45

Indiana has a chance to play spoiler in multiple ways this Saturday. A win on the road would obviously continue the downward spiral of the Cornhuskers in a game they are actually favorited to win. But also, a Hoosier win this weekend would put a damper on Nebraska’s stellar record in Homecoming games; Nebraska has won 75.45% (83-23-4) of their Homecoming matchups and 10 of its last 12. The Cornhuskers are 7-2 in Homecoming games since joining the Big Ten.

“They play really good at home,” said Allen. “It's been their history in the past. They got a lot of pride in that program. I know we're going to get their very best shot. We have to be at our very best, no question.”