Big Ten Coaches Talk Anonymously About Conference Foes for 2024

[Sonap]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-for-2024

Indiana​

“There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember."

"Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a really good hire; it shows that the school wants to be competitive and respectable in football. They’re taking football seriously in NIL, too."

"They brought in a few studs from James Madison, and they’ve worked the portal well."

"The competition level in this league is still above them, but they should look more talented, especially on offense. The MAC quarterback [Kurtis Rourke] is pretty solid."

"If you’re setting reasonable Year 1 expectations, I’d look for them to build an offensive identity to help recruiting

 

[red hornet]

Good synapsis above about Indiana. Indiana lost 4 one-score games last year, including the last 3. The offense will be better than last year w/o a question, but I think the defense will surprise, especially toward the end of the season due to in season conditioning, & improved coaching. Coach Cignetti et al has the blueprint for winning.

 

[vesuvius13]

Good synapsis above about Indiana. Indiana lost 4 one-score games last year, including the last 3. The offense will be better than last year w/o a question, but I think the defense will surprise, especially toward the end of the season due to in season conditioning, & improved coaching. Coach Cignetti et al has the blueprint for winning.

I think IU will surprise people this year with the changes coach Cignetti is making. I expect not only will the offense be far better but the defense will improve too.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

Yes the D has not been dependable and consistent for some time. Also believe opponents big plays will decrease as the season rolls through. I suspect ST's will make good plays for favorable field position. Accountability for all, up and down the roster, finally.

 

[Jssanto]

I am not sure how deep we are. By Oct we will have some guys banged up and looking at backups getting big minutes. I agree about controlling year one expectations.

 

[TominDallas]

I am not sure how deep we are. By Oct we will have some guys banged up and looking at backups getting big minutes. I agree about controlling year one expectations.

Depth. Well said. That will be the key. If CCC can show recruits that we are only depth away from being really good, then good times ahead.

 

[indy1203]

Yes the D has not been dependable and consistent for some time. Also believe opponents big plays will decrease as the season rolls through. I suspect ST's will make good plays for favorable field position. Accountability for all, up and down the roster, finally.

Hope we have seen the last of the bombs by opponents.

 

[Rags to Roses]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-for-2024

Indiana​

“There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember."

"Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a really good hire; it shows that the school wants to be competitive and respectable in football. They’re taking football seriously in NIL, too."

"They brought in a few studs from James Madison, and they’ve worked the portal well."

"The competition level in this league is still above them, but they should look more talented, especially on offense. The MAC quarterback [Kurtis Rourke] is pretty solid."

"If you’re setting reasonable Year 1 expectations, I’d look for them to build an offensive identity to help recruiting

What I liked from this was 1) peer respect for Cignetti, 2) the coaches, who I trust more than Rivals, on3, etc ratings, think Cig did a good job with the portal.

 

[vesuvius13]

I will enjoy watching IU surprise a number of B1G teams this year. I hope to be very happy this year, we will have to wait and see. I did like to see Smith say that Kamara gave him moves he has to work on implying he hasn't seen them before. Some of our JMU guys are going to be better than many think.

 

[td75]

It will be interesting to see how JMU players translate to the Big Ten. I'm sure they will hold their own in the majority of games.

A bowl game is still my expectation...

 

[DCDAVID]

That article has a link to Athlon’s ranking of each BT schools out of conference schedule. Not a big surprise but IU ‘s was ranked 18th (ie, the easiest in the BT). OSU was ranked 14th but if the quality of the team was included one could argue they have the easiest schedule. Akron, Western Mi and Marshall isn’t exactly a gauntlet for a stacked team.

On the other end of the spectrum USC is playing LSU, Utah STATE and ND.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

I will enjoy watching IU surprise a number of B1G teams this year. I hope to be very happy this year, we will have to wait and see. I did like to see Smith say that Kamara gave him moves he has to work on implying he hasn't seen them before. Some of our JMU guys are going to be better than many think.

I watched several JMU games from 2023, including the one against Virginia on the road that JMU won.
While the JMU secondary got torched a bunch in that game early, they settled in but the thing that stood out to me was that their DL was very active, high motor, good pursuit and the guys we got on the DL from that team appeared to be heads and shoulders above our DL from last year. We cannot have injuries because the depth is thin already on the DL but they appeared to be aggressive and disruptive.

 

[82hoosier]

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-ten-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-for-2024

Indiana​

“There’s a lot of talk about the program for the first time since any of us can remember."

"Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a really good hire; it shows that the school wants to be competitive and respectable in football. They’re taking football seriously in NIL, too."

"They brought in a few studs from James Madison, and they’ve worked the portal well."

"The competition level in this league is still above them, but they should look more talented, especially on offense. The MAC quarterback [Kurtis Rourke] is pretty solid."

"If you’re setting reasonable Year 1 expectations, I’d look for them to build an offensive identity to help recruiting

What! What about the bowl talk for this season?

 

[TomEric4756]

I think Rourke will do better than 7th, as SI thinks.

https://www.si.com/college/indiana/...ceivers-old-is-gold-for-hoosiers-01j5rh8db74a

 

[vesuvius13]

I think Rourke will do better than 7th, as SI thinks.

https://www.si.com/college/indiana/...ceivers-old-is-gold-for-hoosiers-01j5rh8db74a

I agree with this offense, the receivers, including RBs out of the backfield should give our QB plenty of yardage and TD passes.