I’m giving Indiana the benefit of the doubt and calling that Nebraska game a TRAP GAME.. because Ohio State is coming to Bloomington next week, and I have a hard time believing the Hoosiers weren’t thinking about that matchup.
But MAN, they were dangerously close to getting caught looking ahead.
Indiana trailed Nebraska 17-6 in the fourth quarter before Josh Hoover and Nick Marsh connected for TWO touchdowns, including a 44-yard score on 4th-and-1 to steal a 20-17 win.
And Nebraska deserves some credit here. They came in undefeated at 5-0, were playing at home, and had Indiana uncomfortable for most of the afternoon. This wasn’t some terrible team the Hoosiers were supposed to beat by 40.
Still, we’re talking about the defending national champions. A team that has made winning look routine under Curt Cignetti. They spent three quarters struggling to get anything going offensively, and if Nick Marsh doesn’t completely take over that fourth quarter, we’re having a VERY different conversation.
I’ll give Indiana a pass for one ugly Saturday. Good teams survive games like this, and they found a way when they absolutely needed one.
But if this was Indiana looking ahead to Ohio State.. they’d better be glad they got away with it.
Because next Saturday, the Buckeyes are actually going to be standing across from them.
