Things don’t get any easier this weekend for an Indiana football team that has lost its last six games.
IU travels to Ohio State to face the No. 2 team in the nation Saturday. The Buckeyes are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten and are more than a five-touchdown favorite against the Hoosiers.
“They're highly favored, and I understand that and why they are,” Indiana head coach Tom Allen said. “But at the same time, you don't ever surrendered anything without question.”
Finding a win has been difficult for the Hoosiers. Coupled with 10 straight losses to end last season, they’ve lost 16 of their last 19 games.
They’ve also lost 26 straight games to Ohio State.
“It's a great opponent, so much respect for them as a staff on what they do, and the players they've assembled them,” Allen said. “And, you know, their goal [an undefeated season] is clear, they’ve stated that. And that's what they're going after. So, we're just doing can do to go over there and find a way to win.”
Indiana will have starting quarterback Connor Bazelak back after he missed last week’s 45-14 loss to Penn State with general soreness.
Bazelak has thrown for 2,099 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he’s been intercepted nine times.
“Definitely healthier and back to more what we expect him to be and in terms of just the velocity of the ball and everything else with his ability and to be healthy,” Allen said. “So, to me, it's decision making. I mean, you talk about expectations, you know, protect the football.”
Backup Jack Tuttle, who started in place of Bazelak last week, will miss the rest of the season after suffering a shoulder injury in the second quarter. Dexter Williams II and Brendan Sorsby also played at quarterback against Penn State, but it was the first action they had seen this season.
“It's gonna have to take collective effort this week with the talent that we're going against in all three phases,” Allen said. “They've got to maximize each other, complement one another --special teams setting the offense, offense setting up the defense, offense taking advantage of those opportunities when they come.”
Saturday’s game kicks off at noon on FOX.
Indiana has two games remaining after this week – at Michigan State and at home to Purdue in the season finale.
