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From espn and the B1G network
Tick, tock. The sound you hear is the countdown to college
football. It's right around the bend, and we're here to get you ready by
looking at each Big Ten team's nonconference opponents this fall.
Today, we put Indiana's non-league slate under the
microscope.
Indiana State, Aug. 29
Coach: Mike Sanford (0-0, first year; 16-43 overall in FBS)
2012 record: 7-4, 5-3 Missouri Valley (FCS)
Offensive headliner: Running back Shakir Bell earned
third-team AP All-America honors after rushing for 1,475 yards and 11 touchdowns
last fall. He finished sixth in the FCS in rushing and recorded seven 100-yard
rushing performances.
Defensive headliner: Cornerback Calvin Burnett is a
back-to-back all-conference selection who recorded four interceptions, eight
pass breakups and 60 tackles, including two for loss and a sack. He also
averaged 15.6 yards on five punt return attempts.
The skinny: Indiana State has transformed its program in
recent years, although the loss of head coach Trent Miles to Georgia State
stings. Sanford struggled mightily as UNLV's head coach and then as
Louisville's offensive coordinator before rebounding as an assistant at Utah
State under current Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen. Bell is a huge weapon for
the Sycamores' offense, but Indiana State must replace six starters on defense
from the 2012 team. The Hoosiers held off the Sycamores 24-17 in last year's
opener.
Navy, Sept. 7
Coach: Ken Niumatalolo, (40-26, sixth year)
2012 record: 8-5
Offensive headliner: Quarterback Keenan
Reynolds started the final eight games as a true freshman, finishing with 898
yards passing and nine touchdowns and 649 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns.
Defensive headliner: Senior linebacker Cody Peterson had 67
tackles last year, including a career-high 14 stops against Army. He has been
named a team captain for 2013.
The skinny: The Midshipmen were one of the few teams who
could match Indiana's youth movement last year, playing 14 true freshmen in
2012. They ranked sixth in the FBS in rushing last season but only scored 25
ppg. Navy beat Indiana 31-30 last year in Annapolis and will open its 2013
season in Bloomington.
Bowling Green, Sept. 14
Coach: Dave Clawson (22-28, fifth year)
2012 record: 8-5, 6-2 MAC
Offensive headliner: Junior running back Anthon Samuel ran
for 998 yards and 11 touchdowns last season, topping 100 yards in five
contests. However, Samuel left the team this spring and it's unclear whether he
will return.
Defensive headliner: Safety and greatly named BooBoo Gates
had a pair of interceptions and was named first team All-MAC last year. He's
also a dangerous kick returner.
The skinny: The Falcons have made steady progress under
Clawson, going from 2-10 in 2010 to a bowl game last year. They have nine
starters back on each side of the ball and should be one of the top MAC
contenders this season. Bowling Green allowed just 16.8 ppg last year and
fielded a top 15 pass defense, which should make for an interesting matchup
against Indiana's potent passing attack.
Missouri, Sept. 21
Coach: Gary Pinkel (90-61, 13th year)
2012 record: 5-7, 2-6 SEC
Offensive headliner: Running back Henry Josey was well on his way to stardom before tearing up his knee in 2011. He's back and healthy now and could build on his sophomore year, when he averaged 8.1 yards per carry until the injury.
Defensive headliner: Cornerback E.J. Gaines led the team
with 11 pass breakups and intercepted Johnny Manziel in the season finale. He
was a first-team All-Big 12 performer in 2011.
The skinny: The Tigers' first season in the SEC was pretty
much a disaster, but a wave of injuries was at least partially to blame.
There's a quarterback battle going on, with former starter James Franklin vying
to regain his role. If Josey is healthy and former No. 1 recruit Dorial
Green-Beckham continues to make progress at receiver, Missouri could have a
fast, versatile offense.
Thoughts:
Indiana has hopes of getting to a bowl game in 2013, and how
it performs in the nonconference schedule will go a long way toward determining
that. On the plus side, the Hoosiers get all four games at home (and, in fact,
play their first five in Bloomington). On the negative side, the three FBS
teams here all pose different challenges, and Indiana State showed it was no
pushover last year against IU. Not to mention that Memorial Stadium hasn't
exactly provided the best home-field advantage over the years. Navy is always a
tough team to prepare for and play because of its option attack. Bowling Green
should be one of the best teams in the MAC. And Missouri should be much
improved with better health this season. If Indiana has made strides on
defense, it should be able to play with all of these teams. Winning three is
probably a must in order to get to a bowl game, but it won't be easy.
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