One game at a time.
That’s how IU football puts Southern Illinois University in the rearview and the past in its place.
With one game in the books, some have already written the narrative for the season and written off the Hoosiers. How can a Big Ten team that barely squeaked by its middle-brow FCS opponent hope to compete in conference play?
The challenges will continue to mount heading into a week-five matchup with the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, whom odds makers have given a 97-percent chance at victory.
But looking ahead won’t do the Hoosiers any good, either. This weekend, the road to six wins leads under the Memorial Stadium lights for an 8 p.m. rendezvous with the FIU Golden Panthers.
Here are five things to watch.
Florida International
Florida International is the team we usually dismiss with a cursory wave of the hand when the schedule is released. They’re the Bowling Green of 2013 — but not 2014. They’re North Texas of 2014, the Southern Illinois of ... Oh. The point is no team should be overlooked, and especially not the Panthers, who made a statement win against in-state rival UCF, winners of nine games a year ago. As a result, FIU and IU find themselves in relatively the same place heading into week two of the young college football season. Both look to stretch 1-point victories into a bowl eligible season, with the Panthers eager to keep their early-season momentum going Saturday.
Turnovers
FIU was able to take down UCF largely because it won the turnover battle. The Panther defense has a reputation for forcing the ball out, creating three fumbles in week one, and finishing second in the nation in fumble recoveries a season ago. Meanwhile, the Hoosier offense played turnover-free against the Salukis while executing a potent run game that garnered five touchdowns and more than 200 yards. Running backs Jordan Howard and Devine Redding must be cognizant of how they’re holding the ball.
Returning/injured players
Eight of the nine athletes suspended last week will see the field Saturday, although outside linebacker Tegray Scales, arguably the best player on that list, will have to sit out one more game, once again leaving a hole in the IU defense. Also questionable are cornerback Rashard Fant — concussion — and safety Chase Dutra — leg. Though both were listed as starters on this week’s depth chart, their absence could spell trouble for a weak secondary.
Shifty Sudfeld
The captain of the frenetic IU offense showed off more than his arm against the Salukis, rushing five times for 46 yards. Nate Sudfeld was keen to get his first hit, but the overwrought Hoosier fandom might have seen his use of the read option as a bit overzealous. Relax, said the senior, his mom had it worse. The quarterback went the entire game without a sack, a testament to the strong Hoosier offensive line that carried out its number-one responsibility: keeping Sudfeld healthy.
IU defense
This is the biggie. IU’s defense must show signs of improvement if the Hoosiers hope to win their first four games, as many predicted they could in the preseason. Like many teams of IU Coach Kevin Wilson, the offense should be able to keep IU competitive in almost any game, but when they inevitably stall, the defense must be able to make stops. I’m a fan of the bend-don’t-break style defense, but, in order for it be effective, the defense can’t — to no surprise — break, as it did in the first half of the home opener in which the Hoosiers failed to get a defensive stop. The halftime adjustment was enough for IU to escape the jaws of defeat, but I expect an even bigger adjustment from both staff and players come Saturday night.
This is the week we find out if the Hoosiers’ week one struggles were a fluke or not.
What’s it going to be, Hoosier Nation? The first-half Hoosiers, or the third-quarter Hoosiers?
vziege@indiana.edu
