IU has zero.
The Hilltoppers have three underclassmen in their starting depth chart.
The Hoosiers have seven.
WKU comes to Bloomington as a 2014 bowl team, having finished last season 8-5 and defeated a 7-6 Central Michigan team 49-48 in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, and the Hilltoppers are currently riding a seven-game win streak, dating back to last season.
That’s the fifth-longest win streak in the nation.
IU comes into Saturday’s game after two barnburners against Division II Southern Illinois, 48-47, and FIU, 36-22.
WKU comes into the game with nine days of preparation, as they played their last game Sept. 10. The Hilltoppers come in as not only the Hoosiers’ most challenging opponent so far this season, but also their most challenging team in the nonconference schedule.
“Very, very good football team and a great challenge for our guys,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said. “We need to have our best week, keep moving forward. We have a lot to build on and a lot of things we can improve on.”
Building is what Wilson and the Hoosiers continue to strive for, particularly on defense, where they have five underclassmen on the same side of the ball..
The entire secondary has yet to reach its junior season of eligibility, a vulnerability that manifested itself in the season opener versus SIU, in which IU surrendered 411 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air.
“It’s important for these young guys to really get out and get a feel for the speed of the game,” sophomore free safety Chase Dutra said before the game against SIU. “Once they get a feel for the speed and get their first snaps, they can just play the game.”
IU’s defense came back to Memorial Stadium and allowed just 24 FIU completions in 47 attempts and 283 yards, a number that’s small compared to week one.
Though Dutra did not in the first two games because of a knee injury, freshman Jonathan Crawford has taken his place at free safety, recording 14 tackles and blocking a field goal.
Other underclassmen defensive backs, such as sophomores Kiante Walton, Tony Fields and Rashard Fant and freshmen Andre Brown and Jameel Cook, have all combined for 34 tackles, five pass deflections and one interception.
The entire defense has recorded 11 pass deflections, the second-most in the Big Ten.
“I tell you something, for young guys, they have a good look in their eye,” Wilson said about the secondary. “They don’t have those big eyes. They’ve got a nice look.”
The underclassman wide receivers are also hitting their strides, as freshman Nick Westbrook caught a short pass and fought across the first down marker on a redzone third down versus SIU, and IU later scored.
Sophomore Simmie Cobbs is also finding his place as a starting receiver on the outside, as he has seven catches for 119 yards, including two fades down the sideline for 38 and 41 yards each.
“These young guys have so much talent,” senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said about the young receivers. “I’m excited for what they will do. They all will be great in their own rights.”
While WKU tight end Tyler Higbee was last week’s Mackey Tight End of the Week, the Hoosiers have also played two NFL-caliber tight ends in SIU’s Adam Fuehne and FIU’s Jonnu Smith.
They allowed a combined eight catches, 155 yards and one touchdown to the tight ends.
With the return of sophomore linebacker Tegray Scales from suspension, the Hoosiers’ young linebacking corps hope to stop another tight end and passing game.
“Looking forward to playing them at four o’clock,” Wilson said. “They had nine days of prep. They played two games on Thursdays. They have been on national TV twice, and they will be playing here at four o’clock.”
