Saturday, October 3
Bloomington, Ind.
3:30 p.m.
Indiana University
vs
Ohio State
Indiana Readies for Ohio State
9/29/2015 1:43:00 PM | Football
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Nate Sudfeld recognizes the hype. He just doesn't care about it.
He knows there's excitement brewing in Bloomington about the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers playing defending national champion Ohio State. He knows Memorial Stadium will be loud and filled, and that thousands more will be watching on national television at home.
Indiana's Big Ten opener at home against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. is one of the most anticipated games of Sudfeld's career. But the senior quarterback isn't sensationalizing the matchup.
"I hope it's popping because it's going to be a great opportunity to start Big Ten play, but we're not seeing it as any bigger game than any other week," Sudfeld said. "We treat each week the same whether it's good or bad, but we understand this is a big game for what we want to do this season."
Ohio State holds the nation's longest winning streak at 17 games.
"They're the best team in the country. You can't hide that," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said.
While studying film, fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw doesn't look at individual playmakers like running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receiver Michael Thomas or anyone of Ohio State's quarterbacks. Instead, he said Indiana focuses on recognizing formations.
"You've just got to try to look at tendencies for Ohio State and just see when they do pass it or run it and see their cadence between quarterback and center," Shaw said.
Once the formations are recognized, it's Indiana's job to exploit any weaknesses.
Indiana offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said the offense will be challenged to recognize patterns from film study and attack them when they see an advantage.
"They have playmakers all over the field," Johns said. "What we need to do is find a way to exploit a weakness somehow. We need to find something and exploit it."
Ohio State has twice spoiled Indiana's hopes of going 5-0, most recently when the teams tied in 1990. Ohio State beat 4-0 Indiana teams in 1985 and 1986.
The Hoosiers have also never beaten a No. 1-ranked team, going 0-15, including a 2006 loss to then-No. 1 Ohio State.
The history ultimately doesn't mean anything. It's not going to change the way either team prepares.
But what can change is the next result, Shaw said. Ohio State may be talented, but he likes the guys he has on his sideline, too.
"They're a good team—a great team," Shaw said. "But we think we're pretty good, too."
He knows there's excitement brewing in Bloomington about the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers playing defending national champion Ohio State. He knows Memorial Stadium will be loud and filled, and that thousands more will be watching on national television at home.
Indiana's Big Ten opener at home against No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. is one of the most anticipated games of Sudfeld's career. But the senior quarterback isn't sensationalizing the matchup.
"I hope it's popping because it's going to be a great opportunity to start Big Ten play, but we're not seeing it as any bigger game than any other week," Sudfeld said. "We treat each week the same whether it's good or bad, but we understand this is a big game for what we want to do this season."
Ohio State holds the nation's longest winning streak at 17 games.
"They're the best team in the country. You can't hide that," sophomore receiver Simmie Cobbs, Jr., said.
While studying film, fifth-year senior bandit Zack Shaw doesn't look at individual playmakers like running back Ezekiel Elliott, wide receiver Michael Thomas or anyone of Ohio State's quarterbacks. Instead, he said Indiana focuses on recognizing formations.
"You've just got to try to look at tendencies for Ohio State and just see when they do pass it or run it and see their cadence between quarterback and center," Shaw said.
Once the formations are recognized, it's Indiana's job to exploit any weaknesses.
Indiana offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said the offense will be challenged to recognize patterns from film study and attack them when they see an advantage.
"They have playmakers all over the field," Johns said. "What we need to do is find a way to exploit a weakness somehow. We need to find something and exploit it."
Ohio State has twice spoiled Indiana's hopes of going 5-0, most recently when the teams tied in 1990. Ohio State beat 4-0 Indiana teams in 1985 and 1986.
The Hoosiers have also never beaten a No. 1-ranked team, going 0-15, including a 2006 loss to then-No. 1 Ohio State.
The history ultimately doesn't mean anything. It's not going to change the way either team prepares.
But what can change is the next result, Shaw said. Ohio State may be talented, but he likes the guys he has on his sideline, too.
"They're a good team—a great team," Shaw said. "But we think we're pretty good, too."
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