Matchup to Watch Week Two: Hoosiers vs. Perception...and Idaho

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

The Indiana Hoosiers should outmatch the Idaho Vandals at every position. The Vandals do have some really good players and are looking for a breakthrough FCS season after a season-opening 68-0 win over Simon Fraser, but all eyes are going to be on how the Hoosiers respond to the drubbing they received at Iowa.

The Hoosiers did not play well and the fans are going to be locked in on two main items on Saturday night, the offensive line and quarterback Michael Penix both of who had brutal opening day performances. Penix was yanked mid-way through the fourth quarter after throwing three interceptions and completing just 14-of-31 passes. The offensive line was missing two projected starters could not handle the Iowa front seven. They allowed five tackles for loss, a sack and six quarterback pressures while failing to open up holes in the run game.

Defeating the Vandals is not going to turn heads just based on itself. The Hoosiers have to look dominant to regain the perception that had earned last season. Perception is reality. Reality was 6-2 in 2020, but in 2021 the perception is that IU has taken a major step backward.

The Hoosiers need to look sharp and crisp. They cannot make the same mistakes, even in a win, and come out feeling great about themselves. The schedule ramps up again after week two as the Hoosiers take on a top-10 Cincinnati team before hitting the road for back-to-back trips to Western Kentucky and Penn State.