After dismantling Rutgers by a score of 47-15 last week, the Indiana Hoosiers are in for a much tougher test in Week 6. The Cream and Crimson will be playing their second Big Ten road game in as many weeks, and are set to face an undefeated Nebraska team hungry for a huge upset win.
Nebraska's struggles against ranked teams over the past decade are well-documented. The Cornhuskers have lost 31 consecutive games to Top-25 opponents, with their last ranked win coming back on Sept. 17, 2016 over No. 22 Oregon. Matt Rhule is 0-9 against ranked teams during his tenure at Nebraska, meaning that the Huskers are more desperate than ever for a signature win.
Indiana enters this contest ranked as the No. 7 team in the country. Looking to avoid being put on upset alert, here are three keys to the game that the Hoosiers must prioritize in order to walk out of Lincoln with a big victory.
Keep the running game humming
The Hoosier rushing game has been elite all season long. Indiana is averaging a whopping 252.6 rushing yards per game, which ranks 2nd in the Big Ten and 9th nationally. Turbo Richard is leading the way in eye-popping fashion, as he's already collected a Big Ten-leading 587 yards this season. Lee Beebe Jr. isn't far behind with 520 yards of his own, and together they are the top two rushers in the Big Ten through five games.
As a team, Indiana is averaging a strong 6.4 yards per carry. The Nebraska run defense has been strong, limiting opponents to 110.6 yards per game. But this will be their toughest test yet. If the Hoosiers want to find the win column in this one, the run game must travel well.
Keep Anthony Colandrea contained in the pocket
Nebraska QB Anthony Colandrea brings a dual-threat skill set to the table that has the potential to give Indiana some problems. On the season, Colandrea has completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,142 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He's also been effective on the ground, as he's racked up 249 yards and two scores with his legs. Keeping Colandrea contained in the pocket should be a top priority for IU defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
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Colandrea has been sacked just five times through four games. With that in mind, getting into the backfield and not only containing Colandrea, but getting him to the ground will be a big key for the Hoosiers.
Get off the field on 3rd downs
So far this season, the Cornhuskers are converting a strong 51.56% of their 3rd down chances on offense. Nebraska's ability to move the ball and keep drives going has been a big key to their 5-0 start. The Hoosiers must find ways to get the Cornhuskers off schedule on early downs and create more difficult 3rd-and-long situations.
If Nebraska consistently stays ahead of the chains, sustains drives, controls the tempo, and keeps Indiana’s offense on the sidelines, things could get hairy for the Hoosiers. Getting off the field on 3rd and 4th downs will be critical for the Hoosiers to limit scoring opportunities and swing momentum in their favor.
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