The Hoosiers Begin Big Ten Play
The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers are finally ready to begin their Big Ten schedule.
No. 4/5 Indiana enters Friday night’s matchup against Northwestern with a perfect 3-0 record after dominating its first three opponents. The Hoosiers have outscored North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky by a combined 145-16, including a 38-0 shutout of Western Kentucky last Saturday.
Now, however, Indiana faces its first conference test of the season.
Northwestern also enters the matchup undefeated at 2-0, making this a much more intriguing Big Ten opener than many expected. The Wildcats are coming off a 41-7 victory over Colorado and will travel to Bloomington hoping to pull off a major upset.
Indiana Has Been Dominant
Through three games, the Hoosiers have looked like a team determined to prove that last season’s national championship was no fluke.
Indiana has been dominant on both sides of the football. The Hoosiers have scored at least 38 points in every game while holding all three opponents to 16 points or fewer.
The defense has been especially impressive. Indiana has forced at least one turnover in 12 consecutive games, while the Hoosiers are allowing just 77 rushing yards per game. That could become particularly important against Northwestern, which is averaging 203 rushing yards per game.
Quarterback Josh Hoover has also helped Indiana get off to a strong start. The veteran quarterback has thrown for 649 yards through three games and will now face a Northwestern defense that has already shown it can create turnovers.
Northwestern Is No Easy Test
While Indiana is heavily favored based on its early-season performance, Northwestern should not be overlooked.
The Wildcats are 2-0 and just dismantled Colorado 41-7. Their rushing attack has been one of their biggest strengths, averaging 203 yards per game.
Northwestern’s defense has also been opportunistic. The Wildcats forced three interceptions against Colorado and currently lead the Big Ten in passes defended with 16.
That creates an interesting matchup. Indiana has yet to turn the ball over this season, while Northwestern has demonstrated an ability to make opposing quarterbacks pay for mistakes.
A Huge Night in Bloomington
Friday’s game will be played at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium, where Indiana has built an impressive home-field advantage.
The Hoosiers currently have an 18-game home winning streak, the longest active streak in the FBS. Indiana also owns a 17-1 record in Big Ten play under head coach Curt Cignetti and has won 10 consecutive conference games.
Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Indiana has dominated the early portion of its schedule, but this game will provide the first real opportunity to see how the defending national champions respond to conference competition.
Northwestern has enough talent to make things interesting, particularly if it can establish the run and force turnovers.
For Indiana, the goal is simple: continue the championship defense with another strong performance and start Big Ten play 1-0.
The Hoosiers have looked nearly unstoppable through three weeks. Friday night will show whether that dominance can continue once conference play begins.
