Indiana, sitting pretty at No. 6 nationally, is giving everyone a serious Halloween scare, and not just their opponents. The Hoosiers just pulled off a 23-16 overtime win against unranked Minnesota, but let’s be real, that’s their second straight week they needed extra time to clinch it. While a win is a win, these performances definitely raise some eyebrows and serious concern for the rest of the season.
Close Calls and Concern
Talk about a Halloween fright: the Hoosiers were forced into extra time by an unranked Minnesota squad last Saturday. They got the 23-16 victory in the end, but the fact they couldn’t put away an unranked opponent in regulation is telling. It wasn’t an isolated incident either; this marked the second week in a row that Indiana needed overtime to seal the deal. For a team ranked No. 6 in the country, that kind of performance has fans wondering what is going on, and if they can maintain that top ranking against tougher competition. The wins are there, but the way they’re getting them is screaming for a change.
Quarterback Questions Loom Large
A common thread in both of these nail-biting games? Quarterback Josh Hoover. The transfer star hasn’t been hitting his usual standards in recent weeks, and the word is a shoulder injury is behind his lower output. This is a massive problem. Enter 7th-year senior backup Grant Wilson, who stepped in against Minnesota and actually sparked the Hoosiers’ offense. Yeah, you read that right: the backup came in and made things happen. This now throws a giant wrench into who will be under center for their Week 11 clash against USC. It’s a real QB controversy brewing, and it’s a make-or-break situation for the team’s momentum heading deeper into the schedule.
What’s Next for the Hoosiers?
Luckily, Indiana gets a moment to catch their breath. They’ve got a bye week for Week 10, which is probably exactly what they need to refresh, refocus, and figure out this quarterback situation. After that, they’ll be back in action at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN, against USC on Saturday, November 14. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. You can catch the game live on CBS, or stream it through Fubo, which even offers a free trial if you’re a new subscriber. This USC game is going to be huge, especially with the questions swirling around the team after these recent performances. Everyone will be watching to see who takes the field at quarterback and if the Hoosiers can get back to their dominant ways.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply