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Big Ten football: predicting the final records in the East

By Christopher Mangum

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: Kris Jenkins #94 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 29: Kris Jenkins #94 of the Michigan Wolverines reacts against the Michigan State Spartans during the second quarter at Michigan Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 15: Connor Bazelak #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN – OCTOBER 15: Connor Bazelak #9 of the Indiana Hoosiers is seen during the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Memorial Stadium on October 15, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

7. Indiana

Current record/rank: 3-5 (1-4 Big Ten), Unranked
Projected record: 3-9 (1-8 Big Ten)
Best win: Illinois (23-20)

The fall-off of Indiana football from 2019 through now has been hard to watch. In 2019, Indiana gave a few good teams a run for their money and finished the regular season with a respectable 8-4 record. In 2020, IU nearly beat Ohio State in Columbus, and destroyed the Michigan Wolverines at home. Since the Hoosiers’ historic 7-2 run during the Covid year, Indiana has failed to do much of anything on the field.

Despite being ranked to start 2021, the Hoosiers proved that 2020 was a fluke by finishing the year 2-10. Now, after a 3-0 start to the year, Indiana football has once again stumbled in the Big Ten, this time with a 1-4 record in conference play. Being honest, I cannot see another win for IU this year.

Indiana has one Big Ten win this year, ironically over Big Ten West favorite (and top-15 team) Illinois. Since edging out a 33-30 win over Western Kentucky (which bumped the Hoosiers to 3-0), Indiana is 0-5 and is coming off of a 24-17 loss at Rutgers.

It has been a disappointing time for Indiana fans. The two seasons before 2021 looked good for IU, but now the Hoosiers seem to be back to square one. No one can take away Indiana’s incredible run in the Covid year, the win over Penn State, Michigan, etc., but that doesn’t mean people will treat those wins like a normal season. Speaking of which, Penn State will come to IU for the first time since 2020, and I believe the Nittany Lions will have revenge on their minds.

Last year Penn State bested Indiana 24-0 in Beaver, but nothing is like revenge in you opposition’s house. The 16th-ranked Nittany Lions (6-2) are coming off of a hard-fought loss to Ohio State, and will be looking to get back on track. Luckily for PSU fans, I do not see the Hoosiers putting up much of a fight.

Like Rutgers, Indiana has a horrible schedule (for them) the rest of the way. This weekend a top-20 Penn State team comes to town, then IU will play at No. 2 Ohio State, at Michigan State, and vs Purdue. All four of these games should be losses for the Hoosiers, which will drop Indiana football to an embarrassing 3-9 overall record. Maybe I am wrong, but the Hoosiers would need an insane streak of upsets and luck to even consider bowl season anytime soon.

Next. Top 10 playoff contenders after Week 9. dark

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