IU football is coming off a much-needed bye week following a 23-16 overtime win over Minnesota on Oct. 31. The Hoosiers have won each of their last two games in overtime, and are now 8-1 on the season.
Indiana received a No. 9 ranking in the latest CFP poll, and would be slated to face Tennessee on the road in the opening round of the playoff if the season ended today.
The Hoosiers will return to Bloomington on Saturday to face No. 18 USC, also fresh off a bye week. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 Eastern and will be televised on CBS.
Here are some notes, numbers and key matchups to know before the game kicks off at Memorial Stadium.
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NOTES
- USC leads the all time series over IU, 4-0. The last time these two teams faced off was back in 1982, a 28-7 win for the Trojans. This will be USC’s second ever trip to Bloomington. They defeated the Hoosiers 21-0 at Memorial Stadium in 1981. As Indiana head coach, Curt Cignetti has defeated every team in the Big Ten except for USC.
- IU’s first ever Rose Bowl appearance came against USC in 1967, in which the Trojans defeated the Hoosiers 14-3 in Pasadena. It would take another 58 years for the Hoosiers to return to the Rose Bowl, where they defeated Alabama 38-3 en route to a national championship.
- Indiana is dealing with a number of injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s game. Starting right guard Joe Brunner popped up on the Thursday availability report and is OUT for the game. The Hoosiers will also be without running back Turbo Richard and defensive lineman Kellen Wyatt. Linebacker Rolijah Hardy is listed as questionable, while cornerback A.J. Harris is probable.
- It remains to be seen who IU will start at quarterback. Cignetti said neither Josh Hoover (rest) nor Grant Wilson (illness) practiced during the bye week. During Monday’s presser, IU’s head coach said that he’ll “see how the week goes” before naming a starter. It is worth noting that Hoover is off the injury report as of Thursday.
- The Hoosiers have now played four consecutive one-possession games. That is by far the longest streak of one-score games IU has played under Cignetti. The overtime win over Minnesota improved Indiana’s record to 9-1 in one-possession games since 2024, including a 4-1 record in those contests this season.
- Weather may play a factor, as the expected temperature at kickoff is 47 degrees, and it will likely drop into the 30s by the second half. Neither team has played a game this season with temperatures that cold, and it could impact the passing and kicking games. It will be major test for both teams, especially Indiana, who is coming off its worst special teams performance of the season against Minnesota.
NUMBERS
- 1 – As USC head coach, Lincoln Riley has one win against a ranked team on the road. Though he has scored big time ranked wins at home and in neutral site matchups, he is just 1-7 against top-25 teams in a true road environment. And that lone win came just up the road at UCLA in 2022.
- 1 – For the first time in program history, Indiana played in consecutive overtime contests, coming out victorious in both. The Hoosiers are just the second AP top 10 team ever to win back-to-back overtime games, joining the 2000 Oregon Ducks.
- 8 – IU pass rusher Tobi Osunsanmi has recorded a sack in eight consecutive games, a program record. The Kansas State transfer now has 10 total sacks on the season. Osunsanmi extended his streak to eight games on the final snap of the Minnesota game, sacking Drake Lindsey to clinch IU’s victory.
- 60 – IU kicker Paddy McAteer set a program record with a 60-yard field goal against Minnesota that sent the game to overtime. The Irishman had been just 1-for-3 on the season with a long of 21 yards.
- 100 – Charlie Becker has now recorded seven 100-yard games as a Hoosier, placing him in a tie for fifth all time in program history. He shares the No. 5 ranking with Cody Latimer and Simmie Cobbs Jr. All of his 100-yard games have come in his last 16 appearances.
KEY MATCHUPS
- Jayden Maiava vs. IU secondary – USC boasts the second-best pass attack in the Big Ten, averaging nearly 300 yards per game through the air. The Hoosiers have the fourth-best pass defense in the conference, only allowing 183.7 passing yards per game. Indiana’s top-ranked running defense means USC will likely have to win this game airing it out.
- IU rushing attack vs. USC front – The Hoosiers will need to rely on their rushing attack a significant amount on Saturday. USC allowed over 200 rushing yards to Ohio State, while IU ranks third in the Big Ten with 186.2 yards per game on the ground. However, without Turbo Richard, that puts a lot more pressure on Lee Beebe Jr. and Khobie Martin.
- Third down conversions – The Trojans have the best third down conversion rate in the conference, picking up 49.5% of their attempts. The IU offense has struggled tremendously on third downs in recent weeks, going just 2-for-13 against Minnesota. Keeping the defense fresh will be a key for both teams in this one.
- Trojans vs. crowd noise – Another sellout crowd is expected in Bloomington on Saturday. As mentioned before, USC has struggled in tough road environments under Lincoln Riley. The last time they went on the road, they were dominated by the Wisconsin Badgers in a 24-7 defeat. With so much on the line for both teams, a raucous Hoosier crowd is going to make things very challenging for the visitors.
