A New Norm – IU Prepares For Another Top-10 Matchup
Pete DiPrimio | IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt considers Saturday afternoon’s football showdown between No. 7/7 Indiana (5-0 overall, 2-0 in the Big Ten) and No. 3/2 Oregon (5-0, 2-0), remembers last season’s top-10 battle between the Hoosiers and Ohio State, and is clear -- this is the IU new norm.
“I’ve always prided myself on trying to win championships since I’ve been little,” he says. “That’s all I wanted to do. Coming here (from James Madison), I thought we could turn this thing around. As you can see, we have these (top-10 matchups) now. It’s all about executing.”
Linebacker Aiden Fisher also considers this upcoming opportunity and he, too, is new-norm clear.
“This is exactly why you come to Indiana, to play in games like this,” he says.
IU’s football world has changed under head coach Curt Cignetti and players such as Sarratt, Fisher, All-America cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and standout defensive lineman Mikail Kamara, all of whom came with their coach from James Madison. A perennially struggling Hoosier program has become a consistent national power with its 16-2 record and last season’s first-ever playoff berth with Cignetti in charge.
“A lot of people are going to be watching,” Fisher says. “This is what Indiana football is now. We're going to play in these big games and expect great outcomes.”
The Hoosiers do that, Fisher adds with this mindset --“you have to prepare for it like any other game.”
IU lost in last season's top-10 opportunity at Ohio State, but that experience, Sarratt insists, has made them better.
“It didn’t go our way at Ohio State last year,” Sarratt says, “but we’re prepared now. It’s all about executing and having fun.”
Fun will come with a daunting challenge. Oregon has won 23-straight regular-season games and 18 straight at Autzen Stadium. Both are the nation’s longest active streaks.
Defensively, the Ducks rank third nationally in pass defense, allowing 123.4 yards per game. They’ve given up just two passing touchdowns and hold opponents to just 12.2 points per game.
IU counters with an offense that averages 47.8 points and 270.4 passing yards a game with a Big Ten-leading 19 touchdown passes.
Sarratt says Oregon’s secondary is deep and talented.
“Most of them can probably scratch their knees standing straight up,” he says with a smile. “They're very long and athletic and are coached very well. It's going to be a challenge, but we're excited. We're ready for it.”
The challenge includes a mix of zone and man coverages.
“They do a little bit of everything,” Sarratt says. “They change it up a lot, but it’s nothing we haven’t seen before. They’re a good defense. We’re a good offense. It’s all about executing.”
Offensively, Oregon rates among the nation’s best in scoring (46.6 points per game) and explosive plays. Led by Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Dante Moore, the Ducks rank second in the Big Ten in rushing (239.4 yards) while IU allows just 88.
The key to countering it, Fisher says, is aggression.
“When you go against a good offense like this, you don’t want them to dictate terms to you,” he says. “That’s how they’ve been so successful.
“You key in on little things they do. Our defense prides itself on stopping the run. They have a great run game. It will be a challenge for us.
“When we get into pass situations, we have to match coverages. We’ve got to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quickly or get to him and make him feel it. It’s a tough offense to prepare for.”
Winning at Iowa a couple of weeks ago, and playing at Ohio State and Notre Dame last year, Sarratt says, is great preparation for Saturday.
“We’ve been through that environment,” he says. “Most of us were new to that last year. Having that under your belt gives you more confidence going into a game like this. We know what to expect, how the crowd is, the whole environment.”
IU won a tough, physical game at Iowa’s Kinnick Stadium, which seats more than 70,000. The Autzen Stadium record is just over 60,000.
Add a week of practicing with pumped-in noise, center Pat Coogan says, and you have a team ready for a hostile environment.
“The more reps you get at it,” he says, “the more time you have to prepare, the more time you spend on it, you're going to be better at it. That's the key for anything.
“We’ve got to spend the time. We’ve got to put in the work. It's loud in practice, but we know it's going to be loud there. It's going to be super loud, so we’ve got to get ready for it.”
Readiness includes appreciating the top-10 opportunity, Coogan adds.
“It's tough because you're so in the moment. Sometimes I take a deep breath before the game, look around and take that one moment to see the stands and see everyone in a crazy environment, and then you just really lock in.
“It's a cool experience and I'm grateful, but it's another big opportunity, so we’ve got to prepare and be ready for it.”