| Indiana's 2021 season may have been the starkest reminder of just how fake the 2020 season was. The 2020 Hoosiers went 6-1 in the regular season, beat Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin, finished ranked #12 in the AP Poll, their highest final ranking since 1967, and the first time they finished ranked at all since 1988. Tom Allen was named National Coach of the Year, and reupped to stay in Indiana. Nothing but good vibes rolling into 2021, where the Hoosiers found themselves ranked to start the year, for the first time since 1969. They absolutely crapped the bed in the opener, losing 34-6 to Iowa, and it was downhill from there. Indiana had their worst season in a decade, winning just one game against an FBS opponent (Western Kentucky), and only scoring more than 15 points once (a 38-35 loss to Maryland) in Big Ten play. The Big Ten site archives only go back to 2003, but Indiana's 10.4 ppg in Big Ten play last year is the worst in that time period, by a full ppg. Allen recognized the need to build up his roster, and the Hoosiers should start at least 5 Power 5 transfers, including three on the defensive line. They are going to have their hands full against an Illinois offense that already got a week to work out some kinks. Chase Brown went off, so those new bodies along the line are going to be much needed. Don't forget how good the Illinois offense looked to start last year though, before falling off a cliff after Game 2. The only worse unit in the conference was the Hoosiers. The Illini secondary looked much improved, so it's important for Indiana's two transfer running backs to contribute. Shaun Shivers comes in from Auburn after being passed over, but he averaged 5.3 ypc as a freshman back in 2018, on 70 carries. His 22 receptions last year show what a versatile weapon he could be. These are probably not the two worst teams in the Big Ten, but in terms of aesthetics, this might be the ugliest Big Ten game of the season, even if the offenses aren't quite as bad as they were last year. |