Game Notes: Indiana Opens Season vs. Ball State

Setting The Scene
• Indiana kicks off its 135th season of football against Ball State on Saturday, Aug. 31, in the Ruoff Kickoff Classic. Kickoff is set for noon EDT at Lucas Oil Stadium (63,000; Shaw Sports Turf Momentum Pro) on CBSSN.
• The teams also opened the 2011 campaign at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 3.
• This is IU's fourth game in an NFL Stadium in Indianapolis: Illinois (Nov. 10, 1984) and Penn State (Oct. 28, 2000) at the RCA Dome (originally Hoosier Dome), and the Cardinals.
• The Hoosiers lead the all-time series, 6-3, and own victories in the last two meetings, both in Bloomington: 38-10 on Sept. 15, 2018, and 30-20 on Sept. 10, 2016.
• Indiana is 39-9-1 (.806) all-time against Mid-American Conference opponents.
• IU returns 20 starters, including nine on offense, nine on defense and two on special teams.
• BSU returns 20 starters, including eight on offense, nine on defense and three on special teams.
• Ball State posted a 4-8 (3-5; 5th MAC West) record in 2018.

The Coaches
• Tom Allen was named Indiana's head coach on Dec. 1, 2016, and made his debut at the 2016 Foster Farms Bowl against Utah. The New Castle, Ind., native joined IU as associate head coach/defense on Jan. 15, 2016. In Allen's two seasons as head coach, 21 Hoosiers have earned All-Big Ten honors and 15 have been drafted or invited to NFL camps. (full bio on page 17)
• Mike Neu is 10-26 in his fourth season as Ball State head coach. Neu, a former BSU quarterback and the 1993 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, served as the New Orleans Saints quarterbacks coach in 2014 and 2015.

News & Notes
• Indiana has won 13 of its last 15 season openers after a 38-28 victory at Florida International in 2018.
• IU has won 14 of its last 15 non-conference games, including six straight.
• The Hoosiers have at least one takeaway in their last 18 games, the second-longest streak in the country behind Central Florida (32), and at least one interception in 10 straight contests.
• Indiana finished 2018 with 26 takeaways (T-11th nationally; T-2nd in the Big Ten), 13 fumble recoveries (T-5th; 2nd) and 13 INTs (T-33rd; T-6th).
• Kalen DeBoer and Kane Wommack make their debuts as offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively. DeBoer spent the last two seasons at Fresno State, while Wommack was elevated from linebackers coach.
• The Terry Tallen Indiana Football Complex was unveiled on Aug. 13. (more details on page 3)
• IU has faced eight Top-5 opponents since the start of 2015, tied for the second-most nationally with Auburn and Clemson, behind Alabama (12).

Game Notes: Indiana Opens Season vs. Ball State

Related Videos