After playing sparingly during his first year and a half with the Indiana Hoosiers, sophomore sensation wide receiver Charlie Becker broke out in a big way when IU needed him the most. Midway through his sophomore campaign in Bloomington, Becker was thrust into a much bigger role for this team. Once star wide receiver Elijah Sarratt went down with his hamstring injury, Becker took advantage.
Through Indiana's first 15 games this season, Becker has 30 catches for 614 yards and four touchdowns, the bulk of which have come since the start of November. Becker had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games at Penn State and vs. Wisconsin in the heart of Big Ten play. He also had 126 receiving yards in the Big Ten Championship win over Ohio State. He has been better in the CFP...
In Indiana's two playoff games so far, Becker has combined to have four catches for 99 yards and four touchdowns, going up against Alabama in the Rose Bowl and then Oregon in a rematch from the regular season in the Peach Bowl. Yes, this offense is headlined by Fernando Mendoza at quarterback with Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. at wide receiver, but Becker has made this a three-headed monster.
The added dimension of an explosive playmaking ability from Becker has made Indiana a juggernaut.
Charlie Becker may be the reason why Indiana wins the national title bout
Even though Indiana is still viewed as a massive favorite to win the College Football Playoff on Monday night in Miami Gardens, the Hoosiers are not going up against some run-of-the-mill, runner-up candidate. The Miami Hurricanes are a fantastic team, one that has come alive at the right time under their leadership. Miami plays with a bit more variance than Indiana, but that team is dangerous.
That being said, Indiana is the most dangerous team in the country because it is just so hard to take away all the offensive weaponry Curt Cignetti and Mike Shanahan have at their disposal. Mendoza does not throw incompletions. If Corey Hetherman's secondary has Sarratt and Cooper covered, Mendoza will just find Becker down the field at 20 yards a clip. Plus, he can always hand the ball off...
It may have been too early to realize it in the moment, but Becker's breakout game vs. Wisconsin was one of those signs that present itself when a team becomes championship-caliber. In every team's run to a title, they get a few unexpected performances like this. We remember those games because of those plays. The interesting part is Becker has not gone away. He has progressed. So has Indiana...
Unless Indiana saves its worst game of the season in the final one, the Hoosiers shall be champions.