Nebraska (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) is set to face off against No. 16 Indiana (6-0, 3-0) this Saturday at 12 p.m. ET, a promising clash being broadcasted on Fox. Indiana is favored by 5 ½ points in this matchup, which stems from the current series record where Indiana holds a narrow edge at 10-9-3.
This midseason Big Ten clash holds significant implications for both teams, who have exceeded preseason expectations. Nebraska was predicted to finish eighth in the expanded 18-team conference, while Indiana was forecasted to come in 17th. However, Indiana has risen to the forefront, currently sharing the Big Ten lead with No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State. There are even discussions suggesting a potential playoff spot for them. For Nebraska, a victory here would inch them closer to bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016, as they sit just one game behind the conference’s leaders.
A pivotal aspect of the game will be the confrontation between Nebraska’s defensive front and Indiana’s offensive line. The Cornhuskers are notable for leading the Big Ten in sacks per game with an impressive average of 3.3. They also rank second in points allowed, holding their opponents to just 11.3 points per game and are third in run defense, conceding only 84.2 yards per contest. Yet, Indiana’s offense boasts a potent attack, leading the conference with an average of 47.5 points and 315.3 passing yards per game while also averaging 200.3 rushing yards. This matchup embodies a compelling clash of strengths as both teams aim to impose their will on the field.
Two players to keep an eye on are Nebraska’s quarterback Dylan Raiola and Indiana’s quarterback Kurtis Rourke. Raiola, a true freshman, has significantly influenced the program’s direction, having thrown for nine touchdowns against three interceptions. However, he faced challenges in the latter part of the last game against Rutgers. This upcoming match presents his first major road test, as he has only competed in one away game thus far at a struggling Purdue. Conversely, Rourke has made a notable impact in his inaugural Big Ten season after transferring from the Mid-American Conference. He has received the conference’s player of the week honors twice, matching the league’s lead with 14 touchdown passes while maintaining a top quarterback rating of 192.1. Rourke has managed to keep interceptions to a minimum, with only two thrown and has experienced just five sacks, making this matchup with Nebraska’s defense particularly intriguing.
In terms of additional context, this season marks Indiana’s best start since the 1967 Rose Bowl season; they have not been 7-0 since then. Nebraska has dominated the recent series, winning six of the last seven games, with their sole defeat occurring in Lincoln in 2019. The last time Indiana triumphed at home in this series was back in 1945, when they won decisively with a score of 54-14. This year, the Hoosiers lead the Big Ten with 23 rushing touchdowns, highlighted by Ty Son Lawton’s seven scores and Justice Ellison contributing six as well. For Nebraska, they began the season with a high-scoring 40-point performance against UTEP, while Indiana has exceeded 40 points in every game so far, winning each by a margin of 14 points or more.