Any remaining hope of IU qualifying for a bowl vanished Saturday.
IU lost to Rutgers 45-23 in Piscataway N.J., ensuring there will be no IU bowl appearance for a seventh consecutive season.
A season that began with optimism that 2014 may finally be the year IU (3-5, 0-6) gets passed the six-win hump ends exactly the same as the previous six seasons have—without a bowl game.
IU’s season will end in two weeks after playing undefeated Ohio State next week and Purdue in the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket Nov. 29.
Although IU led by 13-10 at halftime and freshman quarterback Zander Diamont recorded his best game in his young career, it wasn’t enough for IU to overcome 35 second-half points by Rutgers.
IU pulled within eight points in the opening minute of the fourth quarter on a 28-yard touchdown reception by senior receiver Shane Wynn to make it 31-23, but that would prove to be IU’s last score.
After exchanging punts, an IU defensive breakdown allowed for Rutgers receiver Leonte Carroo to get wide open and haul in a 56-yard touchdown grab from Rutgers senior quarterback Gary Nova.
On the broken play, IU sent a cornerback lined up opposite of Carroo on a blitz. That left IU junior linebacker Zack Shaw mismatched guarding Carroo, who blew past him and was able to catch a lob from Nova in stride as he jogged into the end zone to put Rutgers up 38-23.
IU Coach Kevin Wilson wasn’t afraid to gamble, opening the game with an onside kick that led to an early 3-0 IU lead, but mistakes like dropped passes, flags and defensive breakdowns erased any gains from the successful gambles.
The Hoosiers went for it on fourth down four times, only converting once. IU was worse on third-down, converting only 1-of-15 attempts.
IU turned the ball over three times, once on an interception by Diamont and the other two on fumbles.
The Hoosiers also added nine penalties for 82 yards.
The loss overshadows one of the greatest individual rushing efforts in IU history from junior running back Tevin Coleman.
Coleman ran for a career-high 307 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries in the losing effort. It was a strong follow-up after having his worst game of the season against Penn State a week earlier.
Coleman gave IU a lead just before the halftime break following a fourth down stop by the IU defense. On the ensuing play, Coleman took a sweep on the right side and went 67 yards untouched to give IU a 13-10 lead it took into halftime.
The loss ensures that for the first time since Wilson took over the program, IU will not win more games than it did the previous season.
With the win, Rutgers (6-4, 2-4) has qualified for a bowl.
Sam Beishuizen
