By Jay Berry
Indiana is off to its first 6–0 start since 1967. The Hoosiers’ offense is the nation’s second-highest scoring, with over 45 points per game, and it is the fourth in yards per game, with over 515.
Curt Cignetti is in his first season after leaving James Madison, and he has built this team through the transfer portal.
The Hoosiers have 27 transfers, 14 of them are starters, and 13 are from James Madison. Their QB Kurtis Rourke transferred from Ohio. He leads the nation in quarterback rating, and he is third in completion percentage at 73.8%
Indiana will face its most formidable opponent this season: the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Nebraska’s defense is ranked seventh in scoring and seventh against the run. Matt Rhule‘s team has shown significant offensive improvement from last season. True freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola has been a major upgrade, making very few mistakes and only having three turnovers this season. However, the Huskers lack consistent big-play ability on offense. If they had an outside threat for Raiola, this team would be really, really good.
The Hoosiers want to prove everyone wrong that their record and stats aren’t just from an easy schedule. They want to put a quality win next to their name and get some more credibility.
𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧
📅 10.19
📍 Memorial Stadium
🕚 11:00 AM CDT
📺 @BNKonFOX #GBR x #WhatsNExt! pic.twitter.com/igyGSHHZnL— Nebraska Football (@HuskerFootball) October 14, 2024
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The battle between Nebraska’s DL and Indiana’s OL will determine the game’s outcome
Indiana’s rushing attack averages just over five yards per carry. Additionally, its offensive line has shown great strength in the passing game, having only allowed six sacks this season. This performance has played a significant role in the team’s offensive rankings and Rourke’s success.
The Cornhuskers defense is ranked fourth nationally in yards allowed per carry (2.7) and seventh in rushing yards allowed per game (84.2). They have allowed only 11.3 points per game, the seventh-fewest in the country, and 272.5 yards per game, ranking 13th overall.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers defense has 20 sacks this season, tied for seventh overall. Nebraska averages 3.3 sacks per game. Even more impressive is that Nebraska’s defense is the only one in the country that has not allowed a rushing touchdown this season.
Indiana has a top-10 passing offense, and Nebraska’s defense is ranked 31st in passing yards allowed, but the Huskers do cause problems.
For Matt Rhule and Nebraska, this is a huge game before they face Ohio State next weekend. Going into the game against the Buckeyes with a 6-1 record is a big difference from going in 5-2.
As of Friday, Indiana is a 6.5-point favorite. That seems a bit steep, as I think Nebraska will win the game. I believe Nebraska’s strengths, including its physicality on defense, will help them succeed on Saturday.
The game will kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington at 12:00. The game will be broadcast on FOX, who will also bring Big Noon Kickoff to town.
