Indiana heads to Lincoln this week with plenty of momentum after blasting Rutgers 47-15, but this matchup comes with a different kind of pressure. The Hoosiers are the No. 7 team in the country, Nebraska is unbeaten, and the Cornhuskers are still chasing a ranked win that has eluded them for a long time.
That drought is staggering. Nebraska has dropped 31 straight games against Top-25 opponents, and its last victory over a ranked team came on Sept. 17, 2016 against No.
22 Oregon. Matt Rhule has gone 0-9 against ranked teams in his Nebraska tenure, which only adds to the urgency around this one.
For Indiana, the path to leaving Lincoln with a win starts with leaning on what has carried the Hoosiers all season: the ground game. Indiana is piling up 252.6 rushing yards per game, good for second in the Big Ten and ninth nationally.
Turbo Richard has powered the attack with a Big Ten-best 587 yards, while Lee Beebe Jr. has added 520 of his own. Together, they sit atop the conference rushing leaderboard through five games.
The Hoosiers are also averaging 6.4 yards per carry as a team, and that number will be tested by a Nebraska defense that has held opponents to 110.6 rushing yards per game. Still, this is the toughest road assignment yet for that unit, and Indiana will need its run game to show up in a big way.
The other major challenge is Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea. He gives the Huskers a true dual-threat element, and his numbers show why he can be a problem.
Colandrea has completed 65.7% of his passes for 1,142 yards, with 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He has also added 249 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground.
Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines has to make sure Colandrea doesn’t get comfortable escaping the pocket and extending plays. He has been sacked only five times in four games, so the Hoosiers need pressure that actually finishes the job.
And then there’s the money-down battle. Nebraska has been excellent on third down, converting 51.56% of its chances this season, and that’s been a major reason for the 5-0 start.
Indiana has to disrupt that rhythm early, force longer third downs, and keep the Huskers from staying on schedule. If Nebraska keeps moving the chains, it can control the tempo and keep Indiana’s offense on the sideline.
For the Hoosiers, getting off the field on third and fourth down may end up deciding whether they walk out with a statement win or get dragged into a tight road fight.
In Other News...
Indiana Is About To Test Everything Nebraska Thinks It Is
Charlie McBride has spent enough time around Nebraska football to know that a Big Ten game can turn quickly if the fundamentals slip, and his latest read on the matchup with Indiana was all about the basics. The former Nebraska defensive coordinator broke down on the Carriker Chronicles what the Huskers need to do on both sides of the ball, putting the spotlight on clean tackling, run defense, and the kind of disciplined pass rush that keeps a quarterback from escaping the pocket.
On offense, McBride pointed to the need for explosive plays, a dependable run game and the patience to work the clock instead of forcing the issue. It is a familiar blueprint, but against Indiana it also feels like a test of whether Nebraska can actually live it out for four quarters, especially with the margin for error so thin in a conference game that can swing on one missed tackle or one drive that stalls before it should. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces A Shootout Test Its Fast Start Must Survive
Indianas fast start is about to be measured against a Nebraska team that brings real firepower, and this matchup has the makings of a shootout if both offenses keep operating at the level theyve shown lately. The comparison points are easy to see: quarterbacks Josh Hoover and Anthony Colandrea have helped set the tone for their sides, while Turbo Richard and Jamal Rule give the ground game enough threat to keep defenses honest.
There is also plenty of playmaking out wide, with Charlie Becker and Kwazi Gilmer standing out as targets who can tilt a game quickly. On the other side of the ball, Indiana will need its defense to hold up around Isaiah Jones, while Nebraska leans on Owen Chambliss to steady its own front. With recent performances and injury updates both in the mix, this looks like the kind of test that can either validate Indianas start or expose how much more it still has to prove. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Now Know What Year 2 Will Demand Of DeVries
Indianas 2026-27 mens basketball calendar gives Darian DeVries a clear picture of what Year 2 is going to look like, and it starts earlier than the regular season. The Hoosiers will open with three exhibition games beginning Oct. 11 before settling into a 32-game slate that tips off Nov. 2, a schedule that mixes non-conference tests with the grind of Big Ten play and lays out the kind of weekly rhythm fans have come to expect in Bloomington.
The bigger storyline is what all of that asks of a roster that will again feature both new transfers and returning players as DeVries tries to build on last seasons record. With tip times and TV windows now set, Indiana can start mapping out the climb ahead, but the real intrigue is how quickly the group can come together once the games begin and the conference portion starts to tighten the margin for error. [Read more 🡒]