IU Looks to End Non-Conference Undefeated

BLOOMINGTON, ind. - The Indiana football team will travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., Saturday looking to improve to 4-0 to start a season for the first time since 1990. A win would also extend their winning streak to five games, dating back to last season, for the first time since 1987.

To top it off, an Indiana victory would cap off an undefeated non-conference season for the first time since 2010. It would be hard to blame the Hoosiers for being excited about what they've accomplished.

But senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld doesn't look at it that way.

"On Sunday, we say, 'Good win, back to 0-0,'" Sudfeld said. "We'll see how far we want to go."

Prepare. Win. Appreciate it. Forget about it.

That's been IU's winning formula all season. It isn't changing on the road this weekend.

"All that matters is what's next," head coach Kevin Wilson said. "We're sitting 3-0, and what's next is Wake Forest. It's going to be a good challenge, and we need a good week."

In a matchup of strength against strength, a high-ranking Wake Forest defense will be tasked with slowing down an Indiana offense that leads the Big Ten in scoring at 40.7 points per game. The Demon Deacons are ninth in total defense, seventh in pass defense, 23rd in scoring defense and 39th in rushing defense in the country.

Wilson expects another defensive challenge.

"They are outstanding defensively," Wilson said.

Things aren't as certain on the other side of the ball.

Wake Forest starting quarterback John Wolford suffered an ankle injury while trying to make a tackle after throwing an interception during the Deacons' win against Army. In his place, freshman Kendall Hinton completed 15-of-27 passes for 159 yards while rushing 17 times for 114 yards and both Wake Forest touchdowns.

In doing so, Kendall became the first Demon Deacon to rush for over 100 yards in a single game since 2012. He also became the first quarterback to rush for over 100 yards since 2004.

Wolford hasn't been ruled out this week despite missing practice Tuesday. Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson listed both Wolford and Kendall as starters on his depth chart, forcing Indiana to be prepared to face either one.

"Both are pretty athletic," defensive coordinator Brian Knorr said. "They have a good system. Both of them can run, so we've got to be conscious of that."

Indiana breaks its schedule up into four-game stretches, redshirt junior wide receiver Mitchell Paige said. Each stage represents a different third of the season.

At the beginning of the year, Paige said going undefeated through the first stage was an obtainable goal for a team looking to finish the year with a winning record.

The Hoosiers have positioned themselves to do just that, but the last game is unlike the others before it. For the first time this season, Indiana will have to find a way to win on the road, which hasn't happened since this week, one year ago against Missouri.

"I think it will be good to go on the road and see how that is," Paige said. "It's about keeping it in house. Focusing on us, worrying about us and creating our own energy. Using just the players to get the job done."

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Players Mentioned

Mitchell Paige

Nate Sudfeld