The biggest Nebraska-Indiana game yet
Three keys and a prediction for the Huskers trip to Bloomington, their first game as an underdog this season.
GameDay was at the last game Curt Cignetti lost as a head coach. ESPN’s traveling circus visited Harrisonburg, Virginia, last November for James Madison (10–0) against Appalachian State (6–4).
App State was still trying to hang on to its hard-earned status as a Sun Belt heavyweight, but it was wobbly. JMU was favored by 10, a record number of fans turned up for the ESPN pregame show and App State was where it was thanks to a rush defense that couldn’t stop anything. The Mountaineers were allowing 5.2 yards per carry entering the game, without removing lost yardage on sacks (i.e., passing plays).
Despite all that, App State recorded 11 tackles for loss (season-high) which helped the defense allow 1.85 yards on 33 carries (also the best mark of the season). The Mountaineers still had to win the game in overtime after the Dukes rallied from down 17-5 in the fourth quarter, but they got it done, becoming the first team to beat a Cignetti-led squad in 352 days.
No. 16 Indiana (6-0) didn’t lure GameDay to Bloomington this Saturday for its game against Nebraska (5-1), but it did get Big Noon Saturday, Fox’s competing, traveling circus. Makes sense. This should be the best Nebraska-Indiana game1 anyone has ever seen. The Hoosiers were holding as about a touchdown favorite on Wednesday.
The App State ’23 approach wouldn’t be the worst way for Nebraska to walk out with a win against Indiana. The Blackshirts are much better than that Mountaineer defense was a year ago, and negative plays are something of a strength for this Husker unit.
But that’s just one of the keys to a fascinating matchup this week. Keep reading for more.
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