Hoosiers fight for bowl contention

Oh, how things have changed.\nLess than a month ago, the odds of IU repeating its streak of losing seasons were pretty high. Then came Northwestern and Michigan State, and suddenly the routing of Wisconsin didn't seem like such a fluke. Instantly, speculation surrounded the Hoosiers about a possible bowl game appearance, and senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El's name was thrown back in the Heisman mix.\nAnd now, IU is favored Saturday in the 12:10 p.m. televised game against Joe Paterno and Penn State. \nAt Happy Valley. In front of more than 100,000 Nittany Lions fans. IU is picked to win. \nWhat a difference a month makes.\n"I didn't look at them much in the beginning of the year," Paterno said in his weekly press conference. "I didn't look at them against North Carolina State or some of those other people. I can only look at them now, and they are a good football team."\nPenn State (3-5, 2-4) and IU (3-5, 3-3) share similar characteristics going into this football game. Both are experiencing resurgences after miserable starts. The Hoosiers and the Nittany Lions are in position to head to a bowl, but the outcome of Saturday's game will eliminate one of them from contention.\n Last week, just as Penn State was ready to roll into the IU game on a three-game win streak, Illinois dashed the hopes of the Nittany Lions, and injured their versatile quarterback Zach Mills along the way. Mills is listed as doubtful for Saturday, and his backup, Matt Seneca, replaced him against the Fighting Illini. Seneca threw three interceptions, and Penn State lost in the final two minutes of the game.\nMeanwhile, IU was in East Lansing, Mich., defeating the Spartans for a two-game winning streak, and building the confidence of the Hoosiers.\n"We've gotten to the point that we are aware of what it takes to win," Randle El said. "Our defense has played very well. That is where a lot of it is. Our defense has been getting stops in key situations. They held Northwestern scoreless in the first half. They scored 21 in the second half and had a couple of chances to score again. They kept fighting and wouldn't let them score."\nNumber-wise, IU outweighs Penn State in rushing yards. In the NCAA, the Hoosiers are third, averaging just more than 280 yards per game. The Nittany Lions are 98th, with more than 110 yards per game.\nWhile IU lags behind Penn State in passing yards, the overall offense per game gives the Hoosiers a one-up on the Nittany Lions. On the defensive side of the ball, both teams are fairly evenly matched, but IU has had more success forcing turnovers and getting to its opponents than Penn State has.\n"We knew as a team what we were capable of," senior running back Levron Williams said. "(The defense makes) a good play and (the offense gets) jacked up. When we make a good play, they get jacked up. It is a great feeling to watch the defense make plays, because we know they can play like that."\nAll the new attention and hype has passed by the Hoosiers, who understand that despite the revived excitement surrounding the team, there are three games left. And arguably none is more important than the one IU is facing Saturday.\n"The attention is great, but we can't get overconfident," junior tackle Bobby Brandt said. "The team is emotionally charged, but we're taking it one game at a time. We're trying not to look ahead, because that is when you trip and fall"