Hoosiers to challenge Golden Gophers

All IU has to do is win the rest of its home games, and the Hoosiers will make a bowl game.

The process starts when IU (3-4, 1-2) takes on Minnesota (6-2, 2-2) Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

IU is coming off its second bye week, or “segment,” of the season. Junior defensive end John Laihinen doesn’t think this will be the last segment of the year.

“Until we make a bowl game, then we got another segment right there,” he said.
After Minnesota, IU has another home game next week against Illinois, who lost to Michigan State last week 42-3.

Then IU goes on the road to Wisconsin and Ohio State, which are a combined 13-2 on the year, before heading home to face Purdue, which is 1-6, in the season finale. It has been awhile since the Hoosiers played at home. It was Oct. 5 when IU beat Penn State for the first time in school history.

Ever since Minnesota lost back-to-back games to Iowa and Michigan by a combined score of 65-20, the Golden Gophers have been on a tear.

Last week they upset No. 24 Nebraska 34-23 to earn bowl eligibility status for the second straight season.

The Gophers also downed Northwestern the week before in Evanston, Ill.
“They’re a good, solid football team,” IU Coach Kevin Wilson said.

Minnesota will be the stingiest defense the Hoosiers have faced this year in conference play besides Michigan State. The Gophers are fifth in the
conference, allowing an average of 23 points per game.

The Gophers are a run-first offense, and their passing numbers therefore suffer. They have the worst statistical passing game in the conference, averaging 123 yards per game.

That’s 220 yards less per game than the Hoosiers average per game. Despite leading the conference in passing, Wilson still isn’t content.

“Offensively, you guys think we’re pretty good,” he said. “We were 108th in interceptions thrown. We moved ourselves up to a whopping 97th.

“Look at teams like A&M, Houston, Oregon State that’s throwing for 100 yards more than we are and got about six or seven less picks.”

Minnesota’s lack of passing proficiency will likely not temper their offense, as IU gives up an average of 221 rushing yards per game, the most in the Big Ten.
 
Overall, IU’s defense is the worst in the Big Ten against the run and the pass. IU has given up the most points and also the most yards in the conference.

Nationally, the Hoosier defense ranks 119th out of 123 FBS teams in total defense, and the team has stressed tackling more in practice, Wilson said. For the second straight week, IU coaches did not name a Defensive Player of the Week. Over the last two games, the unit has given up 105 points.

The team and defensive coordinator Doug Mallory has received criticism, but Laihinen said they do their best to block it out.

“We really just do our best to zone it out,” he said. “We really can’t look at. We can’t let it get to us. We gotta know what we know and have faith in what we do.”

Follow reporter Evan Hoopfer on Twitter @EvanHoopfer.