Indiana football: Depleted Hilltoppers should pose no threat in Week 3

Indiana football takes on Western Kentucky for just the second time since 2016 after beating the Hilltoppers, 33-31, on September 25, 2021, which ended up being the Hoosiers last win of the 2021 season. Indiana football tallied up its most yards (512) in a game since recording 522 total yards against Purdue in 2019, including 373 passing yards from Michael Penix Jr.

We take a deep dive into the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and preview their program before they come to Bloomington on September 17th:

Opponent: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Date/Time: Saturday, September 17th at 12:00pm E.T.
TV: Big Ten Network
Location: Memorial Stadium – Bloomington, Indiana
All-time Head-to-Head Record: 4-4-0 (.500)

Offensive Key Player(s)

Austin Reed – #16 – QB

Following one of the best single season performances by a quarterback in college football history by Bailey Zappe last season, graduate senior, Austin Reed, takes over under center and is looking to lead the Hilltoppers to another successful, full throttle season carried by the offense. Western Kentucky’s former starting QB Zappe led all players in college football with 5,967 passing yards and led the team to the second best offense (behind Ohio State) in all of FBS.

Reed, on the other hand, led his West Florida Division II squad to a national championship in 2019 after recording 4,089 yards and 40 touchdowns. After winning the quarterback competition prior to WKU’s first game of the season on Saturday, August 27, Reed is in line to lead one of the best offenses in all of college football.

Malachi Corley – #11 – WR

In the matchup last season, Corley brought in nine receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, which brought the game to a two-point game with just under three minutes remaining. In his extra freshman year due to COVID-19 in 2021, the 5-foot-11 wide receiver ranked fourth on Western Kentucky’s record-setting offense in receiving yards (691) and third in total receptions (73) on the team. Corley entering his third season with the Hilltoppers, will be a primary target for new starting quarterback, Austin Reed, especially with the two receivers ahead of him in receptions, Jerreth Sterns (NFL) and Mitchell Tinsley (Penn State), gone.

Defensive Key Player(s)

A.J. Brathwaite Jr. – #2 – DB

Brathwaite Jr. ranked fourth among all defensive players in total tackles (64) and third in solo tackles (39). The defensive back was all around the field against the Hoosiers in 2021 and finished the game with a team-high 15 tackles, along with forcing the only turnover (fumble) of the game. Because of his performance in that game, Brathwaite Jr. was awarded the C-USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week. Indiana football does not have the same talent at the wide receiver position as previous years, but Brathwaite Jr. will have an impact in the backfield as much as he will in the secondary, facing off against the new-look Hoosiers’ offense.

Overall Outlook

Without the arm and talent of Bailey Zappe for Western Kentucky and their leading receiver Jerreth Sterns, Indiana football is lining up to start with an undefeated, 3-0, 2022 season. Though the Hoosiers are without Michael Penix Jr., who carried IU in their last matchup against the Hilltoppers, Indiana football should have the offensive power and talent to take down WKU at home in its third game of the season.