Indiana vs. Rutgers: Game Preview

Some of this week’s “Nonessential Knowledge” is actually pretty essential. Really more of a “things you should know about Rutgers so as to not look like a jabroni when discussing one of the newest members of the B1G” guide. So there’s that.

What They’re Saying

• Vegas: Rutgers by 7
• ESPN: 6 for RU 0 for IU
• Athlon: 4 for RU 0 for IU
• 24/7: Rutgers 27 IU 10
• BTN: 4 for RU 0 for IU

Keys to Victory

1. Find a Way to Score

Fact: Senior safety Mark Murphy has caught more touchdown passes than all of IU’s WR’s combined in the past month.

More from Indiana Football

• Indiana football lands Tennessee transfer QB Tayven Jackson
• Indiana football roster update: Transfer portal & more departures
• Indiana football vs. Purdue: How to watch, betting tips, & more
• Indiana football shocks Hoosier Nation with win over Michigan State
• Indiana football vs. Michigan State: Three bold predictions for Hoosiers

Since losing Nate Sudfeld, IU’s fledgling offense has faced the 2nd, 3rd and 4th ranked defenses in the conference back-to-back-to-back. Who knows? Maybe facing the 11th ranked defense this week will be like playing a JV squad in comparison.

Rutgers has certainly been bad at defending against the run this year, ranking 97th in FBS. One obvious explanation for Coleman and the offense’s decline in production is the loss of Sudfeld. Another is that the Hoosiers just faced three of the top 10 defenses in the country in the past three games, by far the toughest defensive tests of the year on the schedule (Iowa at 19th and Mizzou at 25th follow).

That’s not to say the offense will be humming this weekend, but it should at least have a fighting chance. Substantially decreasing your own offense’s potential and increasing your opponent’s defense is not a recipe for success. This week, some of that disparity should be mitigated as our weakened offense faces an already weak defense.

2. Get Your Mind Right

Rutgers needs just one more win to become bowl eligible (why don’t we schedule Howard?). Other than IU, they have games at Michigan State and at Maryland remaining on their schedule. In other words, this is a “must win” game on RU’s calendar. They’re going to come out looking for blood on their home field. Indiana on the other hand…

Nov 8, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Simmie Cobbs (10) reaches to catch a ball in the game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Memorial Stadium. Penn State beat Indiana, 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

The hardest thing for me to watch in the last two games hasn’t been Diamont’s struggles at QB. He’s improving. Not an acceptable B1G QB by any means, but getting better and showing emotion. The rest of the offense, however, has thrown in the towel for the year. Fumbles from the running back, dropped passes from the receivers and endless penalties on the offensive line. All are tell-tale signs of individuals who are content with forfeiting the remainder of the season and waiting for Sudfeld to return next year.

This is not a good “mental matchup” heading into Saturday’s game. In terms of actual talent and potential, this game could be close. In terms of mindset, Rutgers advantage is tremendous.

Nonessential Knowledge

• The Scarlet Knights call “High Point Solutions Stadium” in Piscataway (?!), N.J. home.
• Rutgers referes to itself as “the Birthplace of College Football.” Rutgers hosted, played in and lost the first intercollegiate football game ever played in the whole wide world. They fell just short in a 6-4 shootout to Princeton. So referring to the school as  “the Birthplace of Losing” also seems appropriate.

Aug 28, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; The Rutgers Scarlet Knights mascot, the Scarlet Knight, poses for a photo during a game against the Washington State Cougars during the first half at Centurylink Field. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

• Rutgers expanded their stadium in 2009, but thre of their top five games as far as attendance goes have come this year. Number one all time, against Penn State, was a 10-13 loss. Number three was a win against Michigan this year and five was last week’s 0-37 blowout courtesy of Wisconsin. Still, Rutgers fans are enjoying the move to the B1G…or B1G fan bases travel well. This week should eliminate the latter variable.
• The team has been historically awful (pot, kettle…I know). At one point, reducing the football team to Division I-AA was considered.
• Rutgers has sported a myriad of mascots over the years include the “Chantilcleers” (which is a fictional rooster) and the Queensmen. They currently have twice the number of active mascots as Indiana. One, no doubt a close relative to MSU’s Sparty, and other, no doubt a weekly LARP participant.