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Game Preview: Indiana Hoosiers vs. North Texas Mean Green

By Will Logan

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The Indiana Hoosiers need four more wins if they’d like to go to a bowl. According to ESPN’s FPI rankings, Wilson’s bunch has two remaining games against teams ranked lower than themselves: North Texas and Purdue. We’ll save the “where will the upsets come from?” discussion for another day. For now, let’s just agree Indiana needs to win Saturday.

What They’re Saying:

Don’t let the “experts” get you too confident. Let’s be real. This isn’t a “gimme” game. In ESPN’s FPI rankings, the Mean Green are ranked just three spots behind Indiana. If you compare the teams’ passing offense, rushing offense, passing defense and rushing defense…North Texas ranks higher than Indiana in everything other than rushing offense (in other words they don’t have Tevin Coleman). And if you need any other cause for concern, just remember North Texas beat the Hoosiers the last time they faced off in 2011.

Keys to Victory:

1. Offensive Rebound

It’s no secret. The Indiana offense ain’t what it used to be as the Hoosiers have fallen 42 spots in terms of yards per play in 2014. When asked what the problem was last week against Maryland, Coach Wilson narrowed it down to the following:

"“We had some guys open we missed…several drops…protection, route running, concepts…schemes, play calling…play call, time to call it, the protection, the route, the ball placement, the read, the drop, the catch…you name it…”"

In other words, everybody sucked. I said earlier this week that I think the Hoosiers need a quarterback, and I think that holds true. Sudfeld will be the number one guy to watch on Saturday, and he’ll have his hands full.

The North Texas defense is no joke. Check out where they rank nationally in a few key categories:

Granted, their competition hasn’t been great, but they did hold Texas under 400 yards. Something the Indiana defense has yet to do against an FBS opponent.

2. Stop the Run

North Texas hasn’t been in a close game this year. They were blown out by Texas and Louisiana Tech, and they blew out Nicholls State and SMU. What’s the biggest statistical difference in games they’ve dominated in comparison to the games they’ve been dominated? Their ability to run the football.

Sep 14, 2013; Denton, TX, USA; North Texas Mean Green running back Reggie Pegram (2) runs against the Ball State Cardinals during the second half at Apogee Stadium. The Mean Green defeated the Cardinals 34-27. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

The Mean Green average 284.5 yards on the ground in games they win, but have only averaged 91.5 in their losses. Indiana’s rushing defense (42) has been better than that of both Texas (88) and Louisiana Tech (71), so it shouldn’t be too tall of a task for the Hoosier defense, but…

3. Contain Dajon Williams

North Texas cycled through three quarterbacks in their first three games. Finally, last week, the Mean Green settled on freshman Dajon Williams. Unfortunately for the Hoosier defense, he’s mobile; and he’s on fire. Through two games, he’s completed nearly 80% of his attempts, thrown for three TD’s, rushed for two more and thrown zero interceptions. Needless to say his QBR is off the charts at 232.9.

The good news? Most of those stats were compiled against a pathetic Nicholls State defense that has given up 54.6 points per game this year. Indiana will be the first legitimate (relatively speaking) defense Williams will face as a college QB. This is his chance to burst on to the national scene and show the country his skills are real and not just a result of his less-than-impressive competition. It’ll be up to the Hoosier defense to prove him wrong. Fingers crossed.

Nonessential Knowledge:

  • Noah Joseph, IU’s safeties coach who spent the past two years at North Texas, still wears the wrist watch that the team received after winning the Heart of Texas Bowl last season everyday.
  • The Mean Green’s top running back, Reggie Pegram, played two seasons at Purdue before transferring back to his home state of Texas
  • North Texas is a very young team, and, not surprisingly, struggles with penalties, averaging almost nine a game.
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