Two weeks from tonight

[Bowlmania]

Is it crazy to call a season opener a must-win game? Not if bowl eligibility is the goal. Looking at our schedule, It's hard to see a path to six wins if we're unable to beat the Illini at home.

Illinois may have a slight edge with a game under their belt. The flip side of that is we'll have the benefit of some game film (although they probably won't open the playbook against Wyoming), and they'll have no film of us.

Gotta find a way to get the W. Go Hoosiers!

 

[daddyhoosier]

Let's goooo!!

 

[Hoosiers Rising]

Is it crazy to call a season opener a must-win game? Not if bowl eligibility is the goal. Looking at our schedule, It's hard to see a path to six wins if we're unable to beat the Illini at home.

Illinois may have a slight edge with a game under their belt. The flip side of that is we'll have the benefit of some game film (although they probably won't open the playbook against Wyoming), and they'll have no film of us.

Gotta find a way to get the W. Go Hoosiers!

I agree, if a bowl is the goal this a must win.

 

[Big Red Crimson Buffalo]

Feels like do or die time for Allen.
In other home openers against Big Ten teams, he’s really got them whipped up into a frenzy and then crash quickly down (Iowa and OSU). Will be interesting to see how they respond this year?
Something about high pressure scenarios that cause Allen and squad to lose poise. Hope we’re done with that.

 

[vesuvius13]

IU has the players from transfer and very good freshmen to get the job done with our new coaches to win, I sure hope they stick to Illinois, but we will see. BRCB, with our new coaches I don't see that this time. I hope our OL is improved with this offense like they say it is or it will be a tough night for the offense, and we have seen what happens then. I want to see our fast shifty skilled players have holes to run through and open field to run it. Our WR coach seems to emphasize blocking by receivers so we will see.

 

[TomEric4756]

It seems everyone took last season personally and decided to win offseason workouts and spring practice.

The senior linemen and LBs used this dedication to keep portal transfers (along with Nick James and McCullough) from taking their starting spots.

I think IU has its deepest defense in a long time, and will smother the Illini with this depth.
Wilt has that right: go like hell, then take a blow while the next guy does the same.

The offense got reloaded with speed. They can run 4 goes … and put in fresh legs and run 4 goes again.
A steady diet of single high safety short zones and man under will get busted.
This should improve the running room from last year.

A big turnaround has happened before. Coach Corso took a 2-9 then 1-10 squad to 5-6. (Thanks Mike Harkrader and Charlie Peal (among others)) Mike sparked the ‘76 and ‘77 offense with his quickness. We have RBs much faster than Mike on this year’s squad, and they look just as shifty as Harkrader.

IU could well be better than the 2020 squad that relied heavily on short fields to score points.

Go Hoosiers!

 

[Hoosiers47614]

Is it crazy to call a season opener a must-win game? Not if bowl eligibility is the goal. Looking at our schedule, It's hard to see a path to six wins if we're unable to beat the Illini at home.

Illinois may have a slight edge with a game under their belt. The flip side of that is we'll have the benefit of some game film (although they probably won't open the playbook against Wyoming), and they'll have no film of us.

Gotta find a way to get the W. Go Hoosiers!

I feel like it is an underestimation of the Cowboys to assume Illinois will have the opportunity or ability to keep all that much close to the vest against them. I expect it to be a pretty competitive game.

 

[Hoosier Clarion]

I want to enjoy an IU RB who runs behind his pads for a change. It's been a while.

 

[It Will Do]

It seems everyone took last season personally and decided to win offseason workouts and spring practice.

The senior linemen and LBs used this dedication to keep portal transfers (along with Nick James and McCullough) from taking their starting spots.

I think IU has its deepest defense in a long time, and will smother the Illini with this depth.
Wilt has that right: go like hell, then take a blow while the next guy does the same.

The offense got reloaded with speed. They can run 4 goes … and put in fresh legs and run 4 goes again.
A steady diet of single high safety short zones and man under will get busted.
This should improve the running room from last year.

A big turnaround has happened before. Coach Corso took a 2-9 then 1-10 squad to 5-6. (Thanks Mike Harkrader and Charlie Peal (among others)) Mike sparked the ‘76 and ‘77 offense with his quickness. We have RBs much faster than Mike on this year’s squad, and they look just as shifty as Harkrader.

IU could well be better than the 2020 squad that relied heavily on short fields to score points.

Go Hoosiers!

This would be great! It would be a huge relief if we won this opener.