IU shifts focus to Saturday's game

It was almost like Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium didn't even matter. \nShortly after the loss to No. 2 Michigan, IU senior center Justin Frye was already counting down to the season finale against in-state rival Purdue.\n"Six days, 17 hours and two minutes -- this is where it starts," Frye said less than an hour after the game. "A lot of guys have stuff to prove. We've got a lot of seniors on the team, and this is it. There's no more 'next week,' no more 'learn from our mistakes' and 'grow as a team.' It's 'let's get it done right now.'"\nOn the other side of the stadium, Michigan players and coach Lloyd Carr fielded questions about next week's game against No. 1 Ohio State. \nSaturday's matchup will be the first time in the history of the rivalry that Ohio State and Michigan will meet as the top-ranked teams in the country. With all the anticipation for that game, it was difficult for Michigan players to remain focused on playing in Bloomington.\n"It was kind of hard because everybody around us was looking at this matchup between two undefeated teams," Michigan receiver Steve Breaston told The Associated Press. "It was very hard even to keep the younger guys focused, but I think we were able to do that."\nAfter the 34-3 blowout, IU players and coach Terry Hoeppner immediately shifted their focus as well. Next week's game against the Boilermakers represents the last chance for IU to become bowl eligible with a sixth win. \nThe Hoosiers' immediate shift in attention toward Saturday's game in West Lafayette might also come as no surprise given the team's record against top-ranked conference teams this year. Against the top three teams in the Big Ten -- Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin -- IU has been outscored 130-23 this season.\n"We've got to forget about it. We might hang our heads for the day, but starting (Sunday) morning, we've got to come in and get ready," sophomore wide receiver James Hardy said. "We still have the opportunity to reach our goal."\nPurdue (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) is currently tied for fifth in the Big Ten. IU is sixth with a record of 3-4 in conference play.\nThe Hoosiers have been stuck on five wins since beating Michigan State on homecoming two weeks ago and have been blown out in both games since.\nBoth IU and Michigan will play their biggest games of the season next week. But with the national title essentially on the line Saturday at Ohio State, not even the IU players could help but speculate on the outcome.\n"I'm not a gambling man, so I really couldn't tell you (who's going to win). But it's going to be a hell of a game," freshman quarterback Kellen Lewis said. "I'm going to enjoy watching it"