No. 10 Indiana resumes playoff push with Purdue duel on faucet

Within the ultimate evaluation, final week’s 38-15 loss at No. 2 Ohio State was no loss of life knell in any respect for Indiana.

The chaos that enveloped final week’s prime 12 within the School Soccer Playoff enabled the Hoosiers to remain contained in the playoff subject. They dropped from No. 5 to tenth.

Meaning a win Saturday evening at residence of their regular-season finale with in-state rival Purdue would carry one other layer to Indiana’s historic season — a spot within the 12-team playoff.

And may the Buckeyes stumble at residence of their rivalry recreation in opposition to 6-5 Michigan, Indiana might additionally earn a spot within the Huge Ten Convention championship recreation Dec. 7 in opposition to top-ranked Oregon.

“We’re sitting in a great place however we have to deal with enterprise,” mentioned first-year Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti.

Whereas the overdogs from Ohio State poked enjoyable at Cignetti’s brashness after Saturday’s recreation, there is no query he is the odds-on favourite for nationwide Coach of the Yr. A program that is run fairly brutal for generations, except for a scattered good season or two alongside the best way, has risen from seventeenth place in preseason Huge Ten predictions to controlling its future to get into the playoff.

The 2 issues Indiana (10-1, 7-1) desires to do within the season finale are repair considerations that ropped up final week and never take the Boilermakers (1-10, 0-8) without any consideration. Indiana was put in as a four-touchdown favourite to pound Purdue.

They’d wish to get their offense going once more after a few weeks the place they’ve struggled. Ohio State’s bodily protection restricted them to 151 complete yards, most of these approaching two landing drives. In a 20-15 win over Michigan Nov. 9, Indiana managed simply 246 yards of offense.

“We have to get again in sync offensively and get our rhythm again the place we’re taking part in with lots of confidence,” Cignetti mentioned.

Whereas the Hoosiers intention to return to type, the Boilermakers embrace the position of spoiler to finish a forgettable season with a memorable upset. By hook or by crook, adjustments are coming to a program that is gone backwards in coach Ryan Walters’ second yr.

Walters is reportedly secure win or lose to return for a 3rd season.

“I am trying ahead to Saturday. That’s what I’m targeted on proper now,” he mentioned. “These are the issues which can be proper in entrance of us proper now. After Saturday, I am going to look ahead to the following wave of issues.”

Since opening the yr with a 49-0 blanking of FCS opponent Indiana State, the Boilermakers have been principally pummeled. There have been shut video games, like final week’s 24-17 setback at Michigan State, however they’ve been outscored 411-130 for the reason that opener.

If Purdue is to provide itself an opportunity on the upset, it can in all probability want a giant recreation from quarterback Hudson Card (1,606 yards, 9 touchdowns). It should additionally want some massive performs from defenders like linebacker Kydran Jenkins, who has 6.5 sacks this season and 23 in his profession.

The Boilermakers personal a 77-42-6 lead within the all-time collection, which awards the winner the Previous Oaken Bucket. Purdue has gained the final three matchups, together with a 35-31 victory final yr on Card’s 10-yard landing run with 2:39 left.

–Area Degree Media