** 2024 Opponent Preview : Indiana (Game 7) **

We can certainly win this one. Don't think anyone would say we can't win it. They are not on the level of Ohio State. That said, think we all agree that Indiana is a good team. They are no pushovers, and this will be on the road. We don't match up well with them (although our secondary did look a lot better against Rutgers). They're averaging 48 points per game, 500 yards per game. They have a balanced attack. 

The big thing with them is their schedule so far. The toughest teams they've faced are UCLA and Maryland. They have not faced a defense on Nebraska's level. That said, I would not think too lightly of them. They beat the doors off UCLA far better than either LSU or Penn State did. Further, while our defense locked things down yesterday in the second half, it was very "bend don't break" at many points. A lot of chunk passing plays were given up.

I do not favor us in this one. I don't think it is like Ohio State where we basically have no chance. But I would not favor us in this one. Indiana has a very good team. A beneficiary of a thus far easier schedule, yes, but they've taken care of business in every single game. No close calls.

 
Just watched some highlights from the IU vs NW game and it was a 3 point game with 5 min left.  Couple of things I noticed, NW was able to get pressure with their D-line.  They never got home but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Nebraska's D-line is better.  NW didn't tackle well and gave up a bunch of yards after contact.  Their DB's always seemed to be in position just didn't make a play.    NW qb had a couple nice runs and I think that softened IU's defense a little and NW was able to throw the ball at times.  I think this game will go back and forth or IU gets a little too big for their britches and we go in there and smack them around.  

 
MyBloodIsRed16 said:
Just watched some highlights from the IU vs NW game and it was a 3 point game with 5 min left.  Couple of things I noticed, NW was able to get pressure with their D-line.  They never got home but I'm going to go out on a limb and say Nebraska's D-line is better.  NW didn't tackle well and gave up a bunch of yards after contact.  Their DB's always seemed to be in position just didn't make a play.    NW qb had a couple nice runs and I think that softened IU's defense a little and NW was able to throw the ball at times.  I think this game will go back and forth or IU gets a little too big for their britches and we go in there and smack them around.  
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From what I've seen they run a lot of RPO stuff and do it well.  They look like they are executing vs air.  We'll find out if they are indeed that proficient or haven't been challenged physically.  The 3-3-5 is pretty ideal for defending this type of offense, so I'm optimistic White will have answers, and the blackshirts will be more disruptive physically than they've experienced. 

They will probably get in a rhythm at some points in the game, so I see this as a game the offense can't go dormant in for an entire half.

 
floridacorn said:
From what I've seen they run a lot of RPO stuff and do it well.  They look like they are executing vs air.  We'll find out if they are indeed that proficient or haven't been challenged physically.  The 3-3-5 is pretty ideal for defending this type of offense, so I'm optimistic White will have answers, and the blackshirts will be more disruptive physically than they've experienced. 

They will probably get in a rhythm at some points in the game, so I see this as a game the offense can't go dormant in for an entire half.
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Ironically from what I have read from film breakdown/charting guys, RPOs are what we've struggled against most under White. I like having two weeks to prepare here.

It's been talked about a lot, but trying to put Indiana's schedule into context - their strength of schedule from their offense's perspective is ranked about as bad as our special teams. 130th in this ranking (it's the 'ODA' number). Those aren't apples to apples for obvious reasons (special teams and offense are different) and less obvious (the actual gap between #1 and #130 can be wildly different when you're measuring different things). But there are very few teams with an argument for worse special teams than us, and there are just as few teams who can claim playing easier defenses than Indiana thus far.

 
I’m glad the game’s at 11, for selfish reasons, but a little surprised. Nebraska may still slide into the rankings after the bye week, so it might be a ranked matchup. 

 
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