Written by: @zachegreene

The Hoosiers are coming off their bye week and a whole week of rest. It could not have come at a better time. IU is 2-3 on the season, with their three losses coming against some of the best teams in the nation. After a much needed reset, the Hoosiers will welcome the #10 team in the nation Michigan St. The Spartans will be looking for revenge after losing to the Hoosiers during the COVID ridden 2020 season 24-0. Both teams’ rosters look a lot of the same and are watching the film on each other at this exact moment. This will be a bounce-back game for the Hoosiers. If they can pull off an upset victory, the Hoosiers might have a chance to slip back into the AP top 25, considering their strength of schedule. Head Coach Tom Allen will have his program ready, but it will be up to them to buy-in. That said, let’s dive into five keys for the Hoosiers to pull off a victory against the Spartans.

1. Stack the Box and make QB Throne Throw

The Spartans are averaging an absurd 5.8 yards per carry and two touchdowns per game. Spartans RB Kenneth Walker has been averaging over seven yards per carry. Walker has been an early Heisman candidate and has everything that you want in a running back. He has agility and speed. He isn’t afraid to get hit to gain a couple more yards. Walker can be stopped, but it will be challenging. Expect the Hoosiers to stack the box and make Spartans QB Payton Throne throw the ball. Throne has thrown two picks on the season, but the Hoosiers were able to create a takeaway against Throne last season. Expect the Hoosiers to have six plus guys in the box on Saturday and for them to send the heat. IU Defensive Coordinator Charlton Warren loves to draw exotic blitzes and expect him to do the same on Saturday. If the Hoosiers want to win on Saturday, they will need to hold Walker to under seven yards per carry by stacking the box.

2. Ease the Pressure of QB Tuttle

IU QB Jack Tuttle will make his third start for the Hoosiers after two starts last season. Tuttle was 2-0 with an upset against Wisconsin coming in his first start. Tuttle will not be able to do it all. He is your typical pro-style QB who can read a defense and make the right reads. He does not have the speed to run the ball, so it will be essential for the Offensive Line to block against leading sack artist Jacub Panasuik who leads the Spartans with 4.5 sacks on the season. So far, the Hoosiers Offensive Line has struggled, but there is no reason why they can’t turn things around. Hopefully, this past week’s rest will have the O-Line revamped to play against a very aggressive Spartans Defensive Line.

3. Use the Home-Field Advantage

The last home game against Cincinnati Memorial Stadium was rocking, and it was easy to see the crowd noise was making a difference. On the first possession, the Bearcats were called for a fall start right near the student section. This week it will be just as important if not more for the Hoosiers fans to be loud. A win is a must on Saturday to get back on track. The Spartans are a beatable team and young, and they have not played in a loud environment this season. If fans can pack the rock on Saturday, it will bring that home-field advantage that this Hoosiers team needs.

4. Get Creative on First-Down

Indiana has been way too soft on offense this season. At times the unit has looked flat. They are not playing with that edge that they played with last season. A lot of time has to do with the fact that the play calls have been predictable. Too many times, the Hoosiers have run the ball up the middle on first down. Running the ball on first down isn’t the problem. The problem lies with running isolation run up the middle. Offensive Coordinator Nick Sheridan needs to get his unit to be more creative. Instead of isolation pitches, counter runs or even end around will be less predictable. If the Hoosiers can get more creative on first down, it will open the whole playbook getting the entire offense involved.

5. Beat the Spartans in the Air

QB Jack Tuttle has proven that he can throw the football at this level. The Spartans are prone to the passing game. Now injured QB Michael Penix was not getting the job done in the air. He looked iffy at times and unable to complete the ball down the field reliably. Two weeks ago, the Spartans faced off against the Hoosiers’ week four opponent, Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers were able to expose the Spartans in the air just like they did to the Hoosiers. That said, the Spartan’s weakness is their secondary. They are giving up just over 300 yards in the air. With the season-ending injury to star receiver D.J Matthews, no one on the wide receiver unit has stepped up. Who will it be? Ty Fry Fogle or Miles Marshall. Both receivers have the athleticism to split defenses. Overall, if the Hoosiers want to win on Saturday, they will need to expose the Spartan’s weak secondary.

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