Indiana University Athletics
IU Readies For Another Top 10 Opponent
11/3/2015 1:34:00 PM | Football
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Another week, another top 10 opponent. Indiana is used to it by now.
Playing No. 10 Iowa is just another week in the Big Ten.
"It's a hard conference, challenging conference," redshirt sophomore safety Chase Dutra said. "But if you want to be the best, you have to play with the best and beat the best."
The Hoosiers will get a chance to do just that with the No. 10 and undefeated Hawkeyes coming to Memorial Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. matchup Saturday.
Iowa (8-0, 4-0) will be the third top 10 opponent Indiana (4-4, 0-4) has played this season, joining No. 1 Ohio State and No. 7 Michigan State. This season marks the first time since 1991 that the Hoosiers have played three top 10 teams in a single season, a reflection of the current strength in the Big Ten.
"This is the Big Ten," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said. "When you sign up for Big Ten football, you should expect something like that. It's always exciting to play great opponents, and we're just trying to get a victory."
Iowa's success this year has been somewhat unexpected, considering the Hawkeyes weren't ranked at the beginning of the season and only entered the polls after moving to 5-0 with a win over then-No. 19 Wisconsin.
Two weeks after that, Iowa beat then-No. 20 Northwestern by 30 points on the road, shifting some of the Big Ten East's attention to the Hawkeyes in the West. Iowa is in control of its own destiny in qualifying for the Big Ten championship game with a one-game lead and a tiebreaker over Wisconsin with just four games remaining.
With the No. 5 scoring offense and the No. 5 scoring defense in the Big Ten, Iowa hasn't overpowered opponents with star power. But with the best turnover margin in the conference and consistent play across the field, Iowa has been unbeatable. Only two games—Wisconsin and Pittsburgh—have been decided by less than a score.
"I don't know if it's a great group, but they're better together than they are independently," Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson said. "You don't win all these games the way they're winning (by accident). They're scoring points. They've done a nice job. I've always had a lot of respect for their program and the job that they've done there. This is a good football team."
A good football team seemingly from out of nowhere. Last year's Iowa team showed promise before losing four of its final five games to finish 7-6. This season, veteran head coach Kirk
Ferentz has his team playing confident and finding ways to win week in and week out in his 17th season leading the Hawkeyes.
"We're not claiming anything. We're getting ready for our next football game," Ferentz said after beating Maryland last weekend. "Our goal the first week was to win a game, and then ever since it's just been to win another game, win the next game. We're trying to keep it as simple as that. The good thing about football is there are no style points, and when you win, it's beautiful, and when you lose, it's not so good. That's kind of how we look at the world and it's about as simple as that."
Simplicity has worked for Iowa. Indiana's own players and coaches have been preaching the same as they look to snap a four-game losing streak coming out of a bye week.
Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who suffered a season-ending injury against Iowa last season, said he especially wants to "put his best foot forward" against the Hawkeyes considering what happened last year.
He said the energy at practice Sunday was as high as it's been all season. With only four games remaining and another top 10 opponent coming to Bloomington, Sudfeld said he and his teammates are ready for the closing stretch.
"We're really excited about this four-week run," Sudfeld said. "It's the next game and it's a big opportunity for us."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Another week, another top 10 opponent. Indiana is used to it by now.
Playing No. 10 Iowa is just another week in the Big Ten.
"It's a hard conference, challenging conference," redshirt sophomore safety Chase Dutra said. "But if you want to be the best, you have to play with the best and beat the best."
The Hoosiers will get a chance to do just that with the No. 10 and undefeated Hawkeyes coming to Memorial Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. matchup Saturday.
Iowa (8-0, 4-0) will be the third top 10 opponent Indiana (4-4, 0-4) has played this season, joining No. 1 Ohio State and No. 7 Michigan State. This season marks the first time since 1991 that the Hoosiers have played three top 10 teams in a single season, a reflection of the current strength in the Big Ten.
"This is the Big Ten," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said. "When you sign up for Big Ten football, you should expect something like that. It's always exciting to play great opponents, and we're just trying to get a victory."
Iowa's success this year has been somewhat unexpected, considering the Hawkeyes weren't ranked at the beginning of the season and only entered the polls after moving to 5-0 with a win over then-No. 19 Wisconsin.
Two weeks after that, Iowa beat then-No. 20 Northwestern by 30 points on the road, shifting some of the Big Ten East's attention to the Hawkeyes in the West. Iowa is in control of its own destiny in qualifying for the Big Ten championship game with a one-game lead and a tiebreaker over Wisconsin with just four games remaining.
With the No. 5 scoring offense and the No. 5 scoring defense in the Big Ten, Iowa hasn't overpowered opponents with star power. But with the best turnover margin in the conference and consistent play across the field, Iowa has been unbeatable. Only two games—Wisconsin and Pittsburgh—have been decided by less than a score.
"I don't know if it's a great group, but they're better together than they are independently," Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson said. "You don't win all these games the way they're winning (by accident). They're scoring points. They've done a nice job. I've always had a lot of respect for their program and the job that they've done there. This is a good football team."
A good football team seemingly from out of nowhere. Last year's Iowa team showed promise before losing four of its final five games to finish 7-6. This season, veteran head coach Kirk
Ferentz has his team playing confident and finding ways to win week in and week out in his 17th season leading the Hawkeyes.
"We're not claiming anything. We're getting ready for our next football game," Ferentz said after beating Maryland last weekend. "Our goal the first week was to win a game, and then ever since it's just been to win another game, win the next game. We're trying to keep it as simple as that. The good thing about football is there are no style points, and when you win, it's beautiful, and when you lose, it's not so good. That's kind of how we look at the world and it's about as simple as that."
Simplicity has worked for Iowa. Indiana's own players and coaches have been preaching the same as they look to snap a four-game losing streak coming out of a bye week.
Senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who suffered a season-ending injury against Iowa last season, said he especially wants to "put his best foot forward" against the Hawkeyes considering what happened last year.
He said the energy at practice Sunday was as high as it's been all season. With only four games remaining and another top 10 opponent coming to Bloomington, Sudfeld said he and his teammates are ready for the closing stretch.
"We're really excited about this four-week run," Sudfeld said. "It's the next game and it's a big opportunity for us."
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