Keys to a Hoosier Victory over the Hawkeyes

Written by Andrew Walker

Indiana Football is playing their first game of the season this Saturday after a long and eventful offseason. The Hoosiers are looking forward to a great season and the fans are expecting one as well. This weekend, Indiana will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Iowa City. Let’s explore some keys to clipping the wings of the Hawkeyes. 

Get Mike Penix back into the swing of things

Word out of camp has been extremely positive in regards to the recovery of Mike Penix after his unfortunate and devastating knee injury last season. Penix was on an absolute tear last season, and keeping him going on that same trajectory for what should be his best season is absolutely key to starting off the Hoosier football season on a positive note. "(Starting against Iowa) was the expectation from the beginning if he did what he was supposed to do," head coach Tom Allen says. "There's no doubt it could have not been the case based if things didn't go the way you wanted them to or whatever happens along the process. There's no guarantees with that."

Defense has to get first game jitters out of the system\

Everyone knows that regardless of how many hits you dish out or receive in training camp, it pales in comparison to live game action. Everyone knows because everyone sees the missed tackles that inevitably happen in just about every football team’s first game of the season. The Hoosiers have a distinct and unique style of defensive play, not unlike the personality of Tom Allen himself. Fast, explosive, and hard hitting are all words that can describe the Hoosier defense at its best, but missed tackles have always been a bit of an issue for Indiana’s first games in previous years. 

Rushing attack has to be consistent

Too often in the past, the Hoosiers have relied on an inconsistent rushing attack. USC transfer Stephen Carr was just named the starting RB for Indiana, and with it comes some good expectations. Carr came onto the depth chart in the third slot, but quickly proved himself more worthy. "From Day One he came here with zero entitlement at all, knowing he had to earn the spot, be ready to work, be a total team guy,” Allen said. What needs to be a key to the game against Iowa is for Carr to be a guy that can consistently get 5-6 yards per carry if not more.