UPDATE: Here is a release that came from IU Media Relations today....

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana head football coach Kevin Wilson announced on Wednesday the signing of 21 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to play for the Hoosiers in 2016.

IU signed 12 offensive players, seven defensive players and two athletes. The Hoosiers added four offensive linemen, two quarterbacks, two running backs, two tight ends and two wide receivers on offense, and five defensive backs and two defensive linemen on defense.

The class features players from nine different states, including six from Ohio, four from Florida, three from Texas, two from Indiana, two from Georgia, one from Illinois, one from Maryland, one from Mississippi and one from New York.

Quarterback Richard Lagow (Plano, Texas/Plano H.S./Cisco (Texas) C.C.) and defensive back Jayme Thompson (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S./Iowa Western C.C.) enrolled in classes this semester and will participate in spring practice.

“We are very pleased with this class,” Wilson said. “The coaches did a great job building relationships. There is a lot of trust and communication that goes into recruiting, and we did some good work. Over the last couple of years, the majority of our classes featured players on the defensive side of the ball. We are counting on those players - Jonathan Crawford, Leon Thornton III, Andre Brown, Jr., Tegray Scales, Jacob Robinson and Robert McCray III - to contribute big time next year. You are always recruiting a year or two ahead, and this year was a little more offensive oriented. There are some great defensive players in this class, very good defensive backs, an active defensive end in Allen Stallings IV, and an active guy up front in Jerome Johnson. But the bulk of this class was offensive line and skill guys. As we move on down the line, we expect them to be ready to step up and play for us.”

NOTE: The following was the original story that was posted Wednesday morning...

The 2016 Indiana University Football signing class is up to 20 names as of 10 a.m. this morning.

Here’s the list that includes a former Michigan commit at running back in Kiante Enis, a highly touted junior college quarterback in Richard Lagow, a 4-star athlete in Jonah Morris who was named the No. 1 athlete in the Midwest by Scout.com, a 4-star in-state get in OL Coy Cronk from Lafayette Central Catholic, and several other interesting pickups.

The breakdown by position was five defensive backs, four offensive linemen, two each at tight end, running back, defensive line, quarterback and athlete, and one wide receiver.

Here’s a look at the complete list as of now. There could be a few last signees still to come:

Marcelino Ball DB 6-0 200 Roswell, Ga. (Roswell H.S.)
Phil Benker WR 6-2 195 Jacksonville, Fla. (Sandalwood H.S.)
Shaun Bonner TE 6-3 250 Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County H.S.)
Khalil Bryant DB 5-10 200 Jacksonville, Fla. (First Coast H.S.)
Coy Cronk OL 6-5 278 Lafayette, Ind. (Lafayette Central Catholic H.S.)
Brandon Drayton DB 6-2 170 Largo, Fla. (Largo H.S.)
Kiante Enis RB 6-2 205 Saratoga, Ind. (Winchester Community H.S.)
Cole Gest RB 5-8 197 Lyndhurst, Ohio (St. Edward H.S.)
Jerome Johnson DL 6-3 295 Bassfield, Miss. (Bassfield H.S.)
Richard Lagow QB 6-6 240 Plano, Texas (Plano H.S./Cisco (Texas) C.C.)
Jonah Morris ATH 6-4 200 Akron, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban H.S.)
Tyler Natee ATH 6-0 260 Euless, Texas (Trinity H.S.)
Mackenzie Nworah OL 6-4 305 Houston, Texas (Manvel H.S.)
Peyton Ramsey QB 6-2 190 Cincinnati, Ohio (Elder H.S.)
A'Shon Riggins DB 6-0 162 Hamilton, Ohio (Hamilton H.S.)
Ryan Smith OL 6-5 280 Loveland, Ohio (Moeller H.S.)
Allen Stallings IV DL 6-2 230 Maywood, Ill. (Oak Park and River Forest H.S.)
Grayson Stover OL 6-6 295 Spring Hill, Fla. (Hudson H.S.)
Ian Thomas TE 6-5 225 Baltimore, Md. (Digital Harbor H.S./Nassau (N.Y.) C.C.)
Jayme Thompson DB 6-2 195 Toledo, Ohio (Central Catholic H.S./Iowa Western C.C.)

The official bowl announcement for Indiana won’t be made until Sunday, Dec. 6.

Behind the scenes, I’m hearing that New York City on Dec. 26 could be a strong possibility. At the same though there are several possible options.

Indiana sent out an email to alumni today that said that there are seven possible bowl locations for the Hoosiers. Those include:

Foster Farms Bowl
Dec. 26
Santa Clara, Calif.
9:15 p.m. ET

New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Dec. 26
New York City, NY
3:30 p.m. ET

Quick Lane Bowl
Dec. 28
Detroit, Mich.
5 p.m. ET

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Dec. 29
Fort Worth, Texas
2 p.m. ET

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
Dec. 30
Nashville, Tenn.
7 p.m. ET

Holiday Bowl
Dec. 30
San Diego, Calif.
10:30 p.m. ET

TaxSlayer Bowl
Jan. 2
Jacksonville, Fla.
12 p.m. ET

According to the email, priority tickets must be ordered through the IU athletic department for bowl games by Dec. 7.

For official IU Alumni Association travel packages and to receive more information on bowl-related events, visit iusportstours.com.

Also according to the email, all ticket requests made through the IU Athletics Department will be filled and allocated based on the IU Athletics Priority Point Policy.

Nate Sudfeld paused for a moment in his postgame interview Saturday when asked what it will be like next week to play Purdue with more than just the Old Oaken Bucket on the line.

“It’s awesome,’’ Sudfeld said. “This is where we want to be right now coming into this week. We had to take care of business and we did. Obviously the Bucket week, in and of itself is really big for this program, for this school and this state. So obviously we were going to play our tails off this week any way but knowing we’re playing for a little bit more should bring a little extra motivation.

“We’re excited. We know they’re going to be tough and they always play us tough. The rivalry is an honor to play in and we’re just going to have to bring our ‘A’ game.’’

Sudfeld came up big Saturday when his team needed him the most. After Jordan Howard was sidelined with an injury on IU’s first drive, Sudfeld took over through the air. He completed 23 of 35 passes for 385 yards and a career-high tying four touchdown passes to help lead Indiana to a 47-28 victory over Maryland at Byrd Stadium.

The win was significant in many ways for Indiana (5-6, 1-6 Big Ten). It snapped a six-game losing streak and marked IU’s first Big Ten road victory since October of 2012.

Most importantly it moved the Hoosiers to within one game of bowl eligibility with one to play. Beat Purdue next Saturday in West Lafayette, Ind. and the Hoosiers will be bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.

There were plenty of solid performances for Indiana in Saturday’s victory. Consider:

*** Sudfeld came within 15 yards of becoming the first quarterback in IU history to have multiple 400-yard passing games.

*** Devine Redding ran for 130 yards on 24 carries including a 45-yard scamper late in the game.

*** Simmie Cobbs caught nine passes for 192 yards and had the majority of those yards after the catch.

*** Mitchell Paige, who had two touchdown receptions for the season coming into the game, had two more against Maryland. Paige finished with five catches for 64 yards.

*** Griffin Oakes, the reigning Big Ten special teams player of the week, made a case for a second consecutive honor as he made all four of his field goal attempts. He is now 20 for 22 on the year. His field goals were from 21, 19, 48 and 36 yards.

Probably the most impressive statistic for the Hoosiers in this one was that IU refused to quit after falling behind by 18 points in the first quarter. Maryland used a couple of big early plays, including a 79 yard touchdown run, to lead 21-3 with 5:32 to play in the first quarter.

From that point on, Indiana outscored Maryland 44-7.

There were a couple of plays in particular that really seemed to spark the Hoosiers in their comeback. Trailing 21-10 after the first quarter, IU got the ball back at its own 24 yard line. A few plays later, Sudfeld went over the top and hit Andre Booker for 59 yards and a touchdown to close the game to 21-17.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oakes perfectly executed an onsides kick with Rashard Fant recovering at the IU 49. The play completely baffled Maryland and Oakes kicked it perfectly. Eight plays later, Sudfeld scored on a 1 yard quarterback sneak to put IU on top for good, 24-21.

Memorial Stadium was like a bubble swelling with excitement.

The Hoosiers had conference foe and nationally ranked University of Michigan on the ropes in the fourth quarter. In anticipation fans gathered near the bottom of the stands, waiting for their chance to rush the field after Indiana’s breakthrough moment. All season this team had seemed on the cusp of getting an elusive win against a stacked Big Ten schedule. It seemed fitting that Senior Day would be when they finally put it all together and stop a five-game losing streak.

With 2:52 on the clock and Michigan getting the ball back, everyone in the stadium knew Indiana had left too much time on the clock to win in regulation.

Once in overtime, students felt an excitement about IU football that’s normally reserved for the team that plays across the parking lot.

4^th and 2, Indiana ball on the two yard line. Pop. That excitement bubble? It was popped by an incomplete pass and replaced with Wolverine fan cheers. IU fans began wondering aloud if they really expected anything different.

The Michigan game was sort of like a microcosm of this year’s football season. Always close, but never enough; this Indiana football team has taken almost every opponent excluding Penn State down to the wire. Opposing teams fans are calling the Hoosiers the best winless team in the conference.

That is not the accolade anyone on the team wanted, especially after the first undefeated start of the Kevin Wilson era. What seemed like a turning point season for the program has shaped up to be just like the other forgettable ones before it.

At 4-6, there are two games remaining in the season and a lot is on the line.

“We are very excited about the opportunities we have and the challenges ahead,” senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said. “We are definitely just taking it one day at a time.”

Next opportunity for the Hoosiers? 2-8 Maryland. The next week Indiana takes on rival Purdue, who is also 2-8. There is plenty of reason to think that with only two relatively weak teams remaining on the schedule that Indiana can finish strong and achieve 6-6 and a bowl game appearance. The team however, isn’t looking that far ahead.

“We need to make sure guys don’t let their guard down because they’re 2-8,” Sudfeld said about Maryland. “Defensively they’re extremely good and aggressive.”

While defense may be the strength for the Terrapins, that isn’t necessarily saying much. Their total offense is ranked an abysmal 114^th while their total defense is ranked at about middle of the division one pack at 64^th.

Compare that to Indiana whose total offense is ranked 28^th and total defense is ranked 119^th. On paper, IU should pull this one out. But the game isn’t played on paper and the fact is small mistakes can cost a whole team.

IU secondary coach Brandon Shelby put it like this, “…if there are 55 passes and you do everything right 50 times but mess up 5, you’re giving up 3 or 4 touchdowns.”

The defense, specifically the secondary, has been inconsistent this year. That can probably be chalked up to youth as freshmen and sophomores are getting the bulk of the reps.

“These guys are 17, 18 years old going against seniors who are going to be lottery picks, so at the end of the day they can get overwhelmed,” Shelby said. “Unfortunately we are taking our lumps now but in a few years we are going to have some very good veterans back there.”

While all of this experience may pay dividends down the line, someone has to answer for the poor play this year. Shelby says that is his brunt to bear.

“I take full responsibility for us not doing a good job,” Shelby continued. “It’s not on those guys, I have got to do a better job coaching.”

Coaching is a really controversial topic around this program in the midst of a six game losing streak when the coaching staff will likely have their contracts either extended or terminated this offseason. Fans are pretty evenly split on what direction they’d like to see the program take.

Right now, Sudfeld says the coaches are instilling a winning attitude.

“Coach Wilson is doing a great job of facilitating a culture right now of us being a winning team.”

That may sound silly when historically IU football has anything but a winning culture, but if that is ever going to change, so too must the expectations that the team has for themselves.

Before any games were played this year, the fan base had hopes for being around 6-6 and bowling. After the four game win streak to start the year, optimism soared to perhaps unrealistic levels.

Despite the disappointment, that original goal is still achievable. And that’s progress.

Another week, another loss for Indiana football.

It is a familiar story for a program that has struggled to compete for as long as fans can remember. Maybe this season, the sting is a bit more intense because of the optimism that seemed well founded based on a perfect out of conference start. After a five game skid, things are back to how they used to be for the Hoosier football team. Did anybody ever really expect different? After all, like senior quarterback Nate Sudfeld said after their loss to Iowa, “It’s Indiana.”

Basketball coach Tom Crean used the phrase at his introductory press conference and it’s still referenced by fans today. “It’s Indiana,” is a standard on the hardwood while for football, it’s more of an explanation for poor play.

This team was supposed to be the one that changed that. This wasn’t going to be the same old IU football team. It’s Sudfeld’s senior year. They added a talented running back transfer in Jordan Howard. It’s the second year of a new defensive system. The players know the expectations they had for this year. And they know they face coming up short of those goals if something doesn’t change.

“We still have goals to achieve,” senior tackle Jason Spriggs said. “You’re playing for your brothers, for your teammates.”

One of those goals has to bowling. To be fair, there is still reason for optimism about this season. In every game except for Penn State, the Hoosiers have entered the fourth quarter with a chance to win. That includes games against undefeated teams like Ohio State and Iowa as well as Michigan State. It also includes a historic defensive collapse at home against Rutgers.

At this level of football, moral victories are nice but they’re just that- nice. Not the objective. The objective for this squad is to be the first IU football team to go bowling since 2007. The team has put themselves in position to do that with only one more win thanks to their APR score, but the easiest road to a bowl is to win two of their next three games against Michigan, Maryland and Purdue.

“It’s frustrating because we know what we are capable of and we get the loss then watch film and realize one or two mistakes and (if they were avoided) it’s a completely different game,” Spriggs said. “It comes down to a series or a play where we didn’t focus or whatever it is and the momentum changes.”

The momentum for the last five games has been shifted against Indiana whereas in the first four games, the breaks went their way. Linebacker Marcus Oliver said after the Iowa loss that the first four games of the season the team expected to win and that is something they are trying to get back to.

Does that mean Indiana players thought they would lose once Big Ten play began? Probably not. But in the face of adversity, the team has folded in the last five games. Nobody bats an eye because “it’s Indiana,” may as well be a self-fulfilling prophecy at this point.

That is probably only the case for someone who sees scores on an ESPN ticker. Those watching the product on the field know this Indiana team has competed with top 10 teams. In their most recent game against No. 8 Iowa, the team did a few things well.

“It gave us some confidence,” Spriggs said of the offensive line’s run blocking. “We finally got to the point where we were running the ball and blocking like we know we can.”

Spriggs and his unit knows they are capable of getting the best of one of the nation’s best run defenses. If the passing game fell a bit more in Indiana’s favor, the outcome of that game may have been different. The challenge is consistently bringing that performance through four quarters over an entire season. This team has to finish a ball game the way they start.

The Hoosiers’ next chance to do so is against No. 15 Michigan when they come to Memorial Stadium on November 14^th.

“They’re going to play hard, they’re very physical, a lot like Iowa,” Spriggs said. “They’re going to try to play upfield, we’ve seen quite a bit (of film) and we’ve got our gameplan.”

This is the last chance for IU to get a signature win this season. Spriggs said it would be a statement win. At this point of the season, as long as they bring a complete effort against Maryland and Purdue, this Indiana team has shown they have the talent to win and get to 6-6. That is in itself a huge feat for this program.

The fact is, Indiana may or may not beat Michigan. If it does, fans may decide that this five game losing streak wasn’t as bad as it seemed.

If it doesn't, well, it’s Indiana.

Putting a wrap on Indiana's fifth straight loss as bowl eligibility starts to look bleaker and bleaker by the week.

THE GOOD

1. Jordan Howard - The pregame video of wild buffalo roaming the streets of Bloomington to the tune of Metallica's "Enter Sandman" could easily be replaced by video of Howard running roughshod through Big Ten defenders.

The junior picked up his fifth 100-yard game of the season Saturday (remember he missed or was injured for all or most of the October slate while with an ankle injury). He finished with 176 yards on 22 carries Saturday, eclipsing the century mark by halftime. This is against a team that had surrendered 85 yards per game before kickoff.

2. The offensive line - Reference back to point one and give major kudos to the unit in front of him. Both of Howards first-half touchdown runs came running to the left side of the line behind soon to be NFL tackle Jason Spriggs and left guard Wes Martin. Indiana's line at this point has been one of college football's best. Any recognition for them is deserved.

3. Nate Sudfeld - The senior was steady again in a record-breaking day. His fourth-quarter touchdown pass made him Indiana's all-time leader in that category, giving him 49 in his career.

THE BAD

1. Targeting: Any rule implemented to increase player safety isn't bad. The targeting rule in NCAA football is designed for safety. If it was any tougher to understand it would have been written in Latin on the squares of a Rubix cube. Black and white enforcement of the rule is leading to too many players being forced out of games for plays that don't merit that type of consequence.

The Hoosiers lost starting middle linebacker T.J. Simmons late in the first half on Saturday after he drew a targeting penalty on a pass intended for Iowa's Tayvaun Smith. The hit was helmet to helmet so the penalty was warranted, the intent was to make a tackle though and Smith slid to the ground, crossing pass with Simmons as he dove to make a play. Simmons ended up in the locker room for his efforts. Smith was shaken up, but did return.

There's no right or wrong way to go about this rule. Player safety should and does come first. But seeing players disqualified for simple football plays is tough, regardless of what team you’re rooting for as a fan.

2. Drops - Any coach will tell you one drop is too many, but Indiana had several Saturday that were momentum changers.

Mitchell Paige could have set Indiana up in scoring territory. Anthony Corsaro had one that he could have made it to Kirkwood before a defender got within reach. Close games are won or lost on little things. Drops are one of them.

3. Red zone woes - Indiana is getting close too often but not cashing in. Saturday IU made three trips inside the Iowa 20-yard line but could only turn one into a touchdown - and that was on the Hoosiers final drive of the game. Turning field goals into touchdowns has to happen to turn one of these close losses into a mark in the win column.

“In this league it's week in and week out, it's good D-linemen, good defenses, so every week is a challenge,” offensive line coach Greg Frey said. “You can’t rest on your laurels so it is a question of getting that consistency.”

Indiana has certainly found consistency this year, but not necessarily the type fans are looking for. When the season started, the Hoosiers were consistent in winning close games and going 4-0. Two more wins looked like an absolute certainty, but then IU reversed course and started being consistently bad like the teams of old. Sitting at .500 after a four game losing streak, the Hoosiers are at a crossroads in their season. Facing the 10th best team in the country means Indiana has an uphill battle to recovery.

The game pits a potent Indiana offensive attack against the staunch Iowa defense. The Hoosiers had their bye last week, giving them plenty of time to prepare for an Iowa team that boasts the ninth ranked adjusted for opponent defense according to the S&P+ rankings. They lead the conference in forced turnovers, allow a miniscule 85.8 yards per game, have only given up a stingy 4.36 yards per play. The numbers make it clear that IU has a clear challenge in front of them.

The Indiana running offense may be stifled but passing may not be any easier as the Hawkeyes rank fifth in the conference for pass defense efficiency and have Desmond King, who leads the country with seven interceptions.

“They’re a great team as a whole on offense and defense. That is why they’re ranked number ten,” cornerback Rashard Fant said. “They just play great team ball.”

Fant is one of the leaders on a defense that has struggled with the consistency coaches are seeking. While Iowa’s offense isn’t necessarily elite, they are more explosive than in years past as they have the eleventh most plays for 40 or more yards this season. To contain that type of production, Fant says Indiana players must rely on their competitive spirit.

“You have to compete, you’re getting the opportunity to compete with a great player across from you … you have to trust your technique, the defensive scheme, and trust the other ten guys on the field.”

The young Indiana defense has had some of the most painful growing pains in program history including giving up 22 points in the fourth quarter to Rutgers. That robbed the team of a fifth win, which may be all IU needs to go bowling if there are not enough 6-6 teams- a real possibility. While a fifth win and their APR score may be enough for the Hoosiers to go bowling, they want to earn a spot thanks to their play.

“All you can ask from your individuals is that they battle as hard as they can,” Frey said. “(Players competing) Is what I care about.”

Indiana has competed this season against the two undefeated teams they have already played. The team is aware of the physicality and effort they need to bring to play in games like these. They hung with Michigan State and they almost knocked off Ohio State. If they are able to finally put it together and find the consistency the coaching staff has preached, they have the ability to save this season.

Though fan base excitement may have shifted to the hardwood, there is plenty left to play for on the gridiron. Head coach Kevin Wilson’s contract situation is likely going to be evaluated in the offseason and a good showing down the stretch will probably earn him an extension. Indiana can finish the season strong and make good on all the potential fans saw earlier in the season or flounder and head into the offseason with a cloud of uncertainty over their head.

The team needs only two more wins to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. That possibility now looks bleak as the upcoming schedule consists of Michigan State, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland and Purdue. While the Maryland and Purdue games appear winnable, the Hoosiers’ next three games are likely to be losses.

The path to correcting the Hoosiers’ woes resumes against the seventh ranked Spartans of Michigan State. They will likely look to rack up style points against Indiana as they lost some steam after lackluster performances against Purdue and Rutgers.

Michigan State is undefeated and IU’s coaching staff knows that it will be a tall task to hand the Spartans their first loss of the season. Indiana defensive line coach Larry McDaniel acknowledged that it will be a great challenge.

“They’re the benchmark of what Big Ten football is all about,” McDaniel said. “They’ve become a consistent top five team, a consistent winner and when they put the next man in they don’t miss a beat.”

One player who makes Michigan State so difficult to beat is senior quarterback Connor Cook, who is the NCAA’s winningest active quarterback with a 29-3 record in his three years as a starter.

McDaniel’s defensive linemen will have the great task of pressuring Cook who plays behind a solid line. If IU can’t get a consistent pass rush, Cook may pick apart the young Indiana secondary. Generating that type of pass rush is easier said than done against a team that is tied for first place in the conference.

Aside from Michigan State’s excellent offensive line play, McDaniel says rushing quarterbacks like Cook is difficult because of how quickly they make their passes. McDaniel said the tape shows Cook routinely found receivers in about two and a half seconds.

“Michigan got to him maybe twice, but they batted down I think three balls,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel was insistent that the defensive line will not be any less aggressive just because Cook makes his reads quickly.

“You have to remain consistent and have an upfield, edge mentality,” McDaniel said. “If he can get the ball out quickly, sack numbers won’t be that high but we want to be able to rush him and force some errant throws.”

McDaniel sang the praises of Cook, saying that he isn’t easily rattled, reads coverages extremely well and will stay in the pocket to make his progressions then get the ball out quickly.

While Cook is the most visible part of MSU’s offensive gameplan, the team is extremely well balanced. McDaniel highlighted the fact that they are very similar to Jim Tressel’s Ohio State teams.

“They feature a big offensive line and a big back, then once that’s established their play action comes into play,” McDaniel said. “They have great receivers too so that will come into play.”

It is too much to ask for an Indiana defense that gave up twenty-eight unanswered points to Rutgers on its own homecoming weekend to shut down a potent Michigan State offense. It is not how much to ask that the team play with effort. That type of energy is what McDaniel expects on Saturdays.

“The biggest thing is effort, you really have to bring it,” McDaniel said. “If you want it more than the guy across from you, good things will probably happen.”

When the team was 4-0, fans pointed to this season as a possible turning point for IU football. Now that the team has slipped to 4-3, the character of the team is being tested. Will the 2015 season be chalked up as another year of “same old IU football?” Or will they show resilience and start to redefine what that means? We will get an idea on Saturday at 3:30 p.m, when Indiana goes to Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Rutgers comes to Bloomington on Saturday for the Hoosiers’ homecoming weekend. Rutgers is coming off a nail-biting loss to Michigan State while Indiana tries to bounce back from a 29-7 defeat at Penn State.

Indiana fans have had this game circled as a ‘win’ since the schedule came out. At 2-3, the Scarlet Knights look to be about what opposing fans expected in the preseason. That record may be deceiving however, as they put a scare into the then fourth ranked Spartans of Michigan State. Clearly, Rutgers has the talents to win big games.

“Although their record is 2-3, they are a very talented team,” said secondary coach Brandon Shelby. “When you watch film you know it will be a challenge.”

The premiere challenge in this matchup will feature the leader of the IU secondary, Rashard Fant, against future NFL draft pick Leonte Carroo. This will be Carroo’s second game after being suspended earlier in the season. He looks to repeat his performance from last week.

“Carroo is a dominant player, his first week back he had seven catches and three touchdowns,” Shelby said. “He keeps them in games.”

Shelby was critical of Fant’s play to this point in the season.

“His first five games I don’t know if he graded out that well, but he did a great job last week,” Shelby said.

While Fant is the closest thing Indiana has to a veteran in the secondary, the coaching staff believes he still has plenty of room to grow. Shelby stated that Fant will look to build on his performance against Penn State last week.

“His (Fant) first few games I was disappointed in his play, last week he played a full, good game,” Shelby said. “Can he do it again? If he wants to reach his goal he has to do it again and again.”

Part of that building process for Fant includes being more aggressive and overall a more physical corner. Fant believes those are the areas of his game where he can improve the most. Shelby shared a similar sentiment.

“Rashard needs to be a dominant player for us and part of that is attacking more to get interceptions and make plays,” Shelby said.

Everyone in the secondary is excited to meet the challenge. In just three games, Carroo has totaled fourteen receptions, 315 yards and six touchdowns. While Fant is expected to get the majority of snaps against Carroo, fans should expect a mix of players to guard the Edison, New Jersey product. The thought process behind this is that each player in the young Hoosier secondary has a different skillset, so by throwing a combination of looks at Carroo, Indiana can figure the most effective way to minimize his production.

“We’ll probably throw everybody at him, let everybody get a chance,” Fant said. “We are all going to go in there and give it everything we’ve got.”

Carroo, a savvy veteran, has the potential to take advantage of a relatively weak Indiana passing defense. As a likely future NFL player, he is at the stage of his career where IU’s young secondary may not present much of a challenge.

“He’s been doing it for a long time and we have guys like Andre Brown who has been doing this (college football) for a couple months,” Shelby said.

But youth won’t be used as an excuse by anyone on the Indiana football team. The team has been taught preparation all summer long, and Fant has been reinforcing the coaches’ message with the younger players.

“I watched the whole MSU game and half of the Washington State game and told the younger guys to watch the MSU tape,” Fant said. “We want to see where MSU’s corners could’ve maybe done something differently and take what they did do well and use it, because they are great cornerbacks.”

Ultimately, Shelby believes his players know the challenge that awaits them.

“I don’t have to say anything, they can look at the film,” Shelby said. “I was watching the tape and I was in awe because that’s a very good defense at MSU and he (Carroo) was all over the field making great plays.”

The young Indiana secondary will get a test against one of the best players in the Big Ten and a future NFL draft pick. The unit has grown quite a bit as the season has progressed, but Fant says they have put their development in perspective.

“There is a lot of room to get better, we are 4-2 but none of us are satisfied,” Fant said. “We have to get better at our positions, we aren’t happy about 4-2 because we should be 6-0.”

Shelby expects homecoming to be a great game, and emphasized that for the team to improve to 5-2, it has to get Rutgers off the field.

“Their quarterback has the best third down percentage in the league and they are going to score points if we don’t get them off the field,” Shelby said.

After a two game losing streak, a homecoming matchup with Rutgers may be just what the Hoosiers need to get back on track. If they do improve to 5-2, Indiana will be one step closer to going bowling for the first time since 2007.

Indiana nearly went 5-0 after narrowly falling short to defending national champions Ohio State. Fans saw a lot of reasons to be optimistic after the back-and-forth 34-27 loss. The football program however, was not looking for any moral victories. While the defense played seemingly its best game of the season, linebackers coach William Inge says the program viewed that game as a failure.

“In the end you evaluate the result and the final result is that we didn’t win the football game,” said Inge. “There may have been people outside the (football) family happy, but nobody in the locker room was happy.”

Players like Tegray Scales and Marcus Oliver have highlighted the Hoosier defense this season and had particularly good games versus the Buckeyes. As leaders of the unit, Inge believes that their success is the result of a number of causes including preparation, effort, and visualizing the success they desire.

As far as visualizing success, Oliver has said he often sees himself stripping the ball and causing fumbles. It sounds unusual, but Inge believes it plays a large role in making plays.

“When we go through our visualization process, we talk about seeing you doing something that is going to impact the football game,” Inge stated. “In order to execute, you have to see yourself doing it first.”

Imagining big plays is something kids across the country do everyday. To make those imaginations come to life, hard work is crucial.

“On defense when you play with great effort, great things happen and they’ve been able to experience some of the fruits of their labor from playing with a high motor,” Inge said. “On defense it is our job to get the ball back to the offense or score.”

By that formula, the Indiana defense is doing its job as it is tied for the second most defensive touchdowns and has recorded eleven sacks. The team is still susceptible to letting up big plays. Greg Gooch, who plays the bandit position this year, says it is something the team is aware of and actively working to repair.

“We just have to pick it up in practice every day and correct those major holes in the defense.” Gooch added.

Last year Gooch served as a linebacker, but in his sophomore season he has found himself playing bandit- a hybrid role coached by Brian Knorr. To this point in the season, Gooch says he is still picking up how to play his new position. He credits his playing time last year as being a huge help getting acclimated to the speed and physicality of the game.

“I’m getting better in my pass rushing and being physical isn’t a problem for me,” Gooch said. “Its just different keys I have to read and things like that which I have to be more aware of.”

The next IU opponent is Penn State, who Gooch had his best career game against recording an interception, two tackles and one tackle for loss. If he can repeat that defensive player of the week performance he had last year this time around, the defense could have back-to-back strong performances against Big Ten competition.

Fans are anticipating a big day for the defense considering Penn State’s relatively weak offensive line, but the team knows it won’t be easy.

“They’re a pretty dynamic offense, they run the ball well and have a pretty good passing game,” said Gooch. “They’re going to try to run a lot of power at us and get their passing game going.”

Gooch gives high praise, but the Nittany Lions boast only the nation’s 88^th best rushing attack and the 102^nd passing offense. A juggernaut offensive team, Penn State is not. On paper, the Hoosiers defense may actually have the upper hand. Coach Inge insists that the team will not take any opponent lightly.

“We have to show up and play our best game,” Inge said. “More importantly we have to prepare to play our best game every Saturday.”

If somebody told you that Indiana would be in the fourth quarter without Nate Sudfeld or Jordan Howard and only lose by 7, you probably wouldn’t have believed them. But Inge’s linebackers and the defense as a whole played great against one of the best teams in the nation. If the effort and preparation so often harped on by this coaching staff becomes consistent, Indiana stands a fair shot at an eight win season, a bowl berth, and a breakthrough season for head coach Kevin Wilson in his fifth year in Bloomington.

The defending champion Ohio State Buckeyes will take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET The game will be televised on ABC, but nobody seems to be giving Indiana much of a shot.

Yes, Indiana is 4-0 for the first time since 1990. Sure, running back Jordan Howard is the nation’s leading rusher. Just last year, Indiana played Ohio State competitively without quarterback Nate Sudfeld who is now healthy. By all accounts, this should be IU’s most successful football season in decades. But they still aren’t respected for this game to receive national hype.

Ohio State is clearly the more talented team, but the game is played on the field, on Saturdays- not on paper. The magnitude of this game can not be overstated for the Indiana football program.

“This is what you tell players you’re coming to school for,” said linebackers coach William Inge. “You’re going to play against very good competition in the Big Ten East and here we are with an opportunity to do just that.”

The team has been doing everything it can to rise to the occasion. Inge suggested that the linebacker corps works extremely hard both in the film room and on the practice field.

“We (the linebackers and running backs) go against each other in practice, so we try to see who has the best group,” Inge said. “We challenge our players to be competitively great during the week so when the weekend comes you can show it against your opponent.”

On Saturday the defense will face one of the nation’s best backs, Ezekiel Elliott. Inge believes that facing Howard in practice makes the defense prepared for the task. Inge also suggested that the team cannot over pursue or Elliott will reverse the field for big plays.

Inge added that Elliott, “gets downfield with his pads, so you have to bring it when you come to him because if not you can be facing borderline embarrassment.”

This season the defense has had its share of embarrassments causing the team to be lucky to come away with victories. Some of that is due to youth while some is likely due to communication. Inge spoke very highly of T.J. Simmons’ ability to correct those issues.

“He is one of those guys that is quietly impacting the game of football because hes not a big talker,” Inge said. “He is an action player.”

According to Inge, Simmons excels at holding teammates accountable, especially in the film room. In fact, Simmons appears to be a student of the game to the point that he puts countless hours into analyzing game tapes.

“There were times when we would come through the facility and you’d look to the meeting room and there was a little light on,” Inge said. “He was in there watching film.”

While his diligence is helping Simmons “get an edge week in and week out,” according to Inge, it is Marcus Oliver who leads the team in tackles.

“We’ve been pleased with Marcus and just like TJ he is a preparation player,” Inge went on. “He does just what you want him to do and he can do some things that cannot be coached.”

While the linebackers are expected to make plays and drive the defense, the battle in the trenches will be just as important come gameday. Defensive line coach Larry McDaniel’s group has struggled getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks this year.

“Depending on the team these guys are getting the ball out in under three seconds so its hard to generate a pass rush,” McDaniel said. “Right or wrong, defensive lines are measured by how many sacks they generate.”

To remedy this, the defensive line prides itself on getting their hands up and trying to bat down passes.

McDaniel says setting a favorable tone early will be hugely beneficial for the team.

“If you can do some positive things early it makes the flow of the game that much better,” McDaniel said. “Football is such an up and down sport, it lets you whether some storms better.”

While the team believes they can win the game, everyone knows it will not be easy.

“They’re a good football team, they’re well coached and have a lot of skill; we just have to make sure that we play our football game” Inge said. “They’re going to be physical, they’re going to get to the point of attack very fast, they’re very skilled at every position and we just have to keep the pin focused on us.”

As for the defense, McDaniel believes their game will be about successfully rushing the quarterback.

“This being the first Big Ten game, it is a big emphasis to get after the quarterback,” McDaniel said. “We expect that in true passing situations they will rush the quarterback.”

If the team can successfully pressure opposing quarterbacks, some pressure may be taken off of the young Indiana secondary.

Critics doubt the legitimacy of this undefeated Indiana football team. Some fans even do. But if the defense can carry over the momentum from their Wake Forest performance and the offense operates as it normally does, the Hoosiers just may have a chance at shocking the world. After all, Ohio State isn’t an NFL team. They just nicked out a win against Northern Illinois 20-13.

When the news that UAB’s football program would be shut down broke, college coaches across the country carefully examined their roster for potential transfers. Howard, having been productive to the tune of over 2000 yards, stood out statistically. Once Indiana running backs coach Deland McCullough saw tape of Howard, he knew he wanted him.

“I was out recruiting at the time in Baltimore and called back here (to Bloomington),” McCullough said. “I told everyone, ‘I don’t want to make my next trip, I want to wait for his release.’”

Howard’s release came shortly thereafter and McCullough started recruiting him hard, building relationships with both Jordan and his mother. He built familiarity by taking three visits to Howard’s residence. The coach then began to sell his track record which is highlighted by Atlanta Falcons rookie starter Tevin Coleman.

“He saw what I did with Tevin and how he was developed,” McCullough said. “He was comfortable that the situation here was one that could help him get to where he wants to be.”

With his rate of production, its safe to say Howard figures to be a promising NFL prospect. At times he has grown frustrated by his lack of game breaking runs, which McCullough says is something they are working on.

“We are continuing to work on his knee drive and having him run with higher knees which is something he has to make an effort to do,” McCullough said. “I just want him to play ball and those opportunities will come, but as far as fine tuning his game we are working on that.”

Indiana is trying to forge a reputation as “running back U” under McCullough, who humbly deflects praise to his players.

“I’ve never doubted myself… I’m confident that I’m able to identify great guys and getting them to buy in to our process,” McCullough stated. “I take my personality and try to inject it in them.”

Initially, McCullough said that Howard saw that personality manifested in fellow back Devine Redding.

“When Jordan got here, Devine was ‘that guy’, as far as how he worked.” Now, Howard has learned the work ethic of IU running backs that McCullough attributes not only to his teaching but also from Coleman embodying those lessons.

“Its not all business, we have a great time in our room,” McCullough said while chuckling. “But when we are on the field we know we have to prove ourselves every time we are out there.”

The entire Hoosier team has a lot to prove on Sept. 26 when it heads to North Carolina to take on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. After a hot 3-0 start, fans are wondering if the team will fizzle like in years past or if this is finally the year IU makes its way to the post season. An undefeated non-conference start would go a long way in proving this year’s team as a legitimate threat to go bowling. If the team is to be successful, they will need production similar to what Howard has already provided. Howard however, cannot singlehandedly propel his team to victory.

Defensive line coach Larry McDaniel knows this and has been preparing his unit for something they have not yet seen this season: a dual threat quarterback. McCullough says the gameplan heading into the fourth game of the season will be different than it has been to this point.

“It changes you from a defensive mentality because now you have to account for another player making it 11 on 11,” McCullough said. “We have to coordinate our pass rush so that we don’t break containment.”

Keeping the opposing quarterback in check will go a long way in helping the Hoosiers to a victory. That task is easier said than done, and may prove overwhelming for a team whose total defense is rated 121 out of 127 division one teams. McDaniel says the team has a lot to prepare for as Wake Forest presents a very multi-dimensional attack.

There has been a noticeable improvement against the run since the first week of the season- an improvement that has boosted the Hoosiers to the 65^th best devision one rush defense. McDaniel attributes this largely to the pressure the defensive threat has brought onto opposing offensive lines.

“We’ve had a more vertical attack up the field,” McDaniel said. “Now we are doing everything on their side of the line of scrimmage and being aggressive.”

To this point of the season, the IU defense has struggled. If they can exhibit the type of aggression McDaniel expects, they have a chance to make a statement before heading into Big 10 play. If Howard and McDaniel have anything to say about it, Indiana will host Ohio State in a battle of conference leaders on October 3^rd.

Fans have already taken notice of this possibility and the movement for College Gameday to come to Bloomington has taken the Twittersphere by storm via the #iufb4gameday hashtag.

NOTES

Marqui Hawkins has started a hybrid role, crosstraining at WR and RB… Jacob Robinson continues to stand out in practice because of his motor.