The Indiana football program had little trouble with Northwestern on Saturday winning 34-3. With the win and a 7-2 record currently many are projecting the Hoosiers to be sent to the Redbox Bowl in California.
Coming into the season, the Hoosiers were hoping to get bowl eligible, but after a four-game winning streak, Indiana football is thinking bigger. They still have three games remaining and will be big underdogs in two of them, at Penn State and at home against Michigan, but they end the year with Purdue and should be a favorite in that game.
With the winning streak and great record, the Hoosiers have climbed to what would be 28th in the AP Poll and 27th in the Coaches Poll. With a bye week this week, and the possibility of some teams stumbling, the Hoosiers could find themselves inside the top 25 when they head to Penn State.
With the win and a projected final record of 8-4, many are projecting the Hoosiers to be placed in the Redbox Bowl in Santa Clara, California. The bowl would be against a PAC-12 school, probably USC, Arizona State or maybe even Washington.
While many fans would think of Florida as the better bowl destination, heading to California would be a nice trip for the Hoosiers also. They would also get a good opponent to play in if one of those PAC-12 schools would be who they would play.
The thing that the Hoosiers have going for them is they have some exciting players in Biletnikoff Award watch list receiver Whop Philyor, running back Stevie Scott, and redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Bowl games are all money makers and like to bring in players that will bring eyes to their bowls and the Hoosiers have a few.
Indiana also has a fan base that is excited about the season the Hoosiers are having and would love to see them in a good bowl. All of this adds up to Indiana being a good pick for a bigger bowl game.
While the goal at the beginning of the year had the Hoosiers just looking to make it to a bowl, they know have their sights set higher as they try to take themselves to a place they have rarely seen, a bowl win.