IU football moves up in both national polls, big early underdog against Wisconsin

Indiana moved up in both the AP media and coaches polls on Sunday after a win over Maryland, but oddsmakers expect a reversal of fortunes next weekend.

The Hoosiers moved up two spots to No. 10 in the latest AP poll, and one spot to No. 11 in the coaches poll.

Meanwhile, IU is a two touchdown underdog against Wisconsin as uncertainty hovers regarding the availability of Hoosier starting quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.  The redshirt sophomore suffered a lower leg injury in the second half against Maryland.  Indiana has yet to release any official information about the nature of his injury.

Head coach Tom Allen has only referred to Penix’s injury as a “lower leg injury” but did not offer more details. “The bottom line is he’s going to be evaluated, and we’ll know more on Monday,” Allen said after the Maryland game.

Allen is expected to provide more details at a regularly scheduled noon ET Monday press conference.  If Penix cannot play, redshirt sophomore Jack Tuttle would be the starter in Madison.

Joining IU in the national polls from the Big Ten are Ohio State (No. 3 AP / No. 4 coaches), Northwestern (16/17), Wisconsin (18/19) and Iowa (24/24).

IU is ranked in the AP poll for the sixth-straight week, the longest stretch for the program since 1987. The Hoosiers have been ranked in the top-10 of the AP poll three times this year, the most for the team since being ranked in the top-10 five times in 1967.

The No. 10/11 Hoosiers will travel north to face No. 18/19 Wisconsin on Saturday, Dec. 5. The game is scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. EDT kick and will be televised on ABC.

Wisconsin holds a ten game winning streak over IU.  The Hoosiers last win in the series was in 2002, and their last win in Madison in 2001.

More Maryland coverage:  Tom Allen post game | Players post game | Game story | Backdoor to Big Ten title game?

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