Indiana Football: Ranking each game on the schedule by difficulty

4. Wisconsin

This is going to be a huge game for the Hoosiers this year. It is the first game of the year and in Madison which is incredibly tough to win at. The Hoosiers might actually return more talent on offense then the Badgers do, but whose defense will play better. Wisconsin has a better defense on paper, and that could be the difference. Playing at Camp Randall will not be easy, but if the Hoosiers could pull off the huge upset to start the season it could lead to big things this year. This win would put the Hoosiers on the map and would probably vault them into the top 25, where they could stay there for a while based on their schedule.

3. Penn State

Last year the Hoosiers hung right with the Nittany Lions on the road and this year they get them at home. Penn State has been very good under James Franklin and finds ways to win games, but the Hoosier match up well with them. This would be a huge win for the Hoosiers, especially because it is at the beginning of a brutal four-game stretch that includes Ohio State and Michigan. This could be one of the toughest stretches of games for any team in the country and unfortunately, it is one the Hoosiers must face. These are the type of games the Hoosiers must find a way to win if they want to show the country that they are a top 25 type team.

2. Michigan

Look Wisconsin and Penn State might be better than the Wolverines, but whenever you carry such a long losing streak against a team it is going to be one of the toughest on your schedule. It has been 24 straight games and 33 years since the Hoosiers have beat Michigan. Not only that but the Wolverines hold a 59-9 series edge. The Wolverines easily took care of the Hoosiers last year and that was at Indiana. It will be tough for Indiana to beat Michigan on the road, but one that could be a program changing win and remove a huge monkey from their back.

1. Ohio State

If you haven’t heard the Buckeyes are really really good. They return their Heisman finalist quarterback Justin Fields. They do lose some skill position players including running back JK Dobbins, but they seem to reload each year instead of rebuild. This game is at the Horseshoe and will be very tough for the Hoosiers to win. Indiana has been in games with the Buckeyes in the second half in recent years, but can’t get over the hump. They also have a 24 game losing streak against Ohio State and will need to play their best game to win and that might not even be enough. If the Hoosiers could pull off this win, then they might be vying for a Big Ten East crown.