IU Makes First Trip to Maryland Since 1935
11/17/2015 4:09:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson isn't letting Maryland's recent struggles impact how he looks at the Terrapins.
With two games remaining in the Big Ten regular season, Indiana (4-6, 0-6) owns four of the six wins it aspires to get with a two-game road trip to play Maryland and Purdue left before any postseason hopes are realized.
The first half of IU's road trip comes against Maryland (2-8, 0-6) at noon Saturday in College Park, Md. Though the game has big picture implications, the Hoosiers are trying to stay focused on the Terrapins and the Terrapins alone this weekend. If IU manages to start winning, everything else would fall into place.
"We talked about just going 1-0 this week," fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw said. "Coach has really been harping about going 1-0. You've got to just look at this game. You can't be looking forward."
The Terrapins will be doing the same as they celebrate their Senior Day, looking to break out of a seven-game losing slump. Last week, they struggled to get much going against Michigan State in a 24-7 loss in East Lansing, Mich.
Like Indiana, Maryland has lost all six of its Big Ten games this season.
And like Indiana, that statistic is a bit hard for people who have watched the team play to believe.
"They're a lot like us, meaning I can't believe they haven't won more games than they have," IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. "But when you look at their schedule, and it's the same with us, when you're playing top teams every single week, it's a dog fight. They're out their fighting like we are."
In data released by SB Nation stat guru Bill Connelly, Maryland's strength of schedule ranks the toughest in the FBS. Connelly's model is based on S&P+, an efficiency and explosiveness-based advanced metric that relies on play-by-play data in an attempt to account for what Connelly believes is a true estimate of talent level.
Indiana and Maryland's records have suffered from the same thing in that respect—difficult opponents.
The Hoosiers and Terrapins both have losses to top foes Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan, which suggests both teams' seasons could have entirely different outlooks if their schedules had been more favorable.
"So their record is kind of struggling like us, losing here several in a row," Wilson said. "They've played some outstanding games."
Wilson will make sure his players are aware of that as the Indiana defense looks to sharpen up this week against a Maryland team that averages 22.2 points per game, ranking 12th in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers have struggled to contain opponents lately, giving up an average of 46.75 points per game over the last four contests, but Wilson was quick to point out that the losses don't fall on his defense's shoulders.
"It is a team deal," Wilson said. "Those offensive guys will tell you they need to score some points, and the defensive guys say we've got to make more stops. And the kicking guys say
I've got to make a play in the kicking game. So it's still a team down there."
Wilson said people can analyze and manipulate the statistics all they want, but he's not interested in numbers this late in the season, nor is he about to accept any moral victories. There's too much football left for that.
With much yet to be decided, Wilson said he only cares about one number—wins.
"There's good stats and bad stats, but ultimately you've got to put it together and get a W," Wilson said. "It would be really great to go get one on the road this week."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson isn't letting Maryland's recent struggles impact how he looks at the Terrapins.
With two games remaining in the Big Ten regular season, Indiana (4-6, 0-6) owns four of the six wins it aspires to get with a two-game road trip to play Maryland and Purdue left before any postseason hopes are realized.
The first half of IU's road trip comes against Maryland (2-8, 0-6) at noon Saturday in College Park, Md. Though the game has big picture implications, the Hoosiers are trying to stay focused on the Terrapins and the Terrapins alone this weekend. If IU manages to start winning, everything else would fall into place.
"We talked about just going 1-0 this week," fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw said. "Coach has really been harping about going 1-0. You've got to just look at this game. You can't be looking forward."
The Terrapins will be doing the same as they celebrate their Senior Day, looking to break out of a seven-game losing slump. Last week, they struggled to get much going against Michigan State in a 24-7 loss in East Lansing, Mich.
Like Indiana, Maryland has lost all six of its Big Ten games this season.
And like Indiana, that statistic is a bit hard for people who have watched the team play to believe.
"They're a lot like us, meaning I can't believe they haven't won more games than they have," IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. "But when you look at their schedule, and it's the same with us, when you're playing top teams every single week, it's a dog fight. They're out their fighting like we are."
In data released by SB Nation stat guru Bill Connelly, Maryland's strength of schedule ranks the toughest in the FBS. Connelly's model is based on S&P+, an efficiency and explosiveness-based advanced metric that relies on play-by-play data in an attempt to account for what Connelly believes is a true estimate of talent level.
Indiana and Maryland's records have suffered from the same thing in that respect—difficult opponents.
The Hoosiers and Terrapins both have losses to top foes Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan, which suggests both teams' seasons could have entirely different outlooks if their schedules had been more favorable.
"So their record is kind of struggling like us, losing here several in a row," Wilson said. "They've played some outstanding games."
Wilson will make sure his players are aware of that as the Indiana defense looks to sharpen up this week against a Maryland team that averages 22.2 points per game, ranking 12th in the Big Ten.
The Hoosiers have struggled to contain opponents lately, giving up an average of 46.75 points per game over the last four contests, but Wilson was quick to point out that the losses don't fall on his defense's shoulders.
"It is a team deal," Wilson said. "Those offensive guys will tell you they need to score some points, and the defensive guys say we've got to make more stops. And the kicking guys say
I've got to make a play in the kicking game. So it's still a team down there."
Wilson said people can analyze and manipulate the statistics all they want, but he's not interested in numbers this late in the season, nor is he about to accept any moral victories. There's too much football left for that.
With much yet to be decided, Wilson said he only cares about one number—wins.
"There's good stats and bad stats, but ultimately you've got to put it together and get a W," Wilson said. "It would be really great to go get one on the road this week."
FB: Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti - Week 5 (at Iowa)
Thursday, September 25
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 5 (at Iowa)
Wednesday, September 24
FB: Pat Coogan Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB: Aiden Fisher Media Availability (9/23/25)
Tuesday, September 23