A look at IU football’s 2024 opponents: Week 2 — Western Illinois

With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2024.

The Hoosiers take on Western Illinois in an early-season Friday night game in Bloomington. The FCS Leathernecks are IU’s only opponent outside of FBS. WIU is coming off two straight winless seasons, and the team has won only three games over the last four seasons. The Leathernecks are hoping a coaching change and a conference move — from the Missouri Valley to the Ohio Valley — will bring a change in fortunes.

Opponent: Western Illinois
Date/Time/TV: Friday, September 6, 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
2023 record/postseason result: 0-11, 0-8 Missouri Valley

Offensive outlook: Western Illinois finished last in FCS in total offense last season at 231.5 yards per game. The team scored the third-fewest points per game in FCS as well, at 12.5. The Leathernecks rushed for just 47.6 yards per game as a team, which was also the worst mark in FCS. They did finish closer to the middle of the pack in the nation in passing offense, with 183.8 yards per game.

WIU had a lot of roster turnover on offense from last season to this year, though. The Leathernecks will have a new quarterback, different running backs, and new receivers. Four offensive line starters from last season are returning this year, but after that group allowed the most sacks per game in FCS and struggled to open up the run game, it’s plausible that new head coach Joe Davis and his staff could make changes there as well.

Defensive outlook: WIU paired its FCS-worst offense with the worst total defense in FCS last season, allowing 477.9 yards per game to its opponents. The Leathernecks finished with only six sacks as a team, which was last in FCS. They also allowed the most points to opponents in the nation at 46.3 per game, and the team also ranked near the bottom of FCS in takeaways and tackles for loss.

Western Illinois has more returning production on defense, though, as its top three tacklers from last season are all back. Six of the team’s top 10 tacklers from 2023 are back for 2024. WIU has six returning defense starters in total — and they’re split evenly, with two on defensive line, two linebackers, and two in the secondary. Outside linebacker Ryan Crandall (5.5 tackles for loss, one QB hurry, one forced fumble, four pass breakups last season) could be one of the main disrupters on this unit.

Special teams outlook: The Leathernecks bring back senior punter Jared Campbell, whose 39.2 yards per punt last season ranked 57th out of 87 qualified punters in FCS. WIU’s primary kicker from last season Owen Valek is gone, and senior Christiaan Masucci will take over the job. Masucci missed his lone field goal attempt in 2023. Nobody who returned a kick or punt for Western Illinois last season is back on this year’s team.

Overall Outlook: Western Illinois has been the worst team in FCS over the last several years. But with a lot of roster changes in the offseason, and a new coaching staff, the Leathernecks could have a chance at avoiding the same distinction this year. But Davis will have a lot of work to do, both on and off the field, to get WIU moving in the right direction.

Previous outlooks:

Florida International

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