| Cincinnati owes 2020 Indiana at least a really nice gift basket. Not the 2021 Indiana they actually beat, but the IDEA of 2021 Indiana, bolstered by 2020 Indiana, which was an OSU win away from making the College Football Playoff. That, combined with a win over Notre Dame, gave Cincinnati the marquee pair of wins to give them a resume deserving of a shot. But the actual Indiana was not all that good. Part of that was the fact that Michael Penix, tried to play hurt, played poorly, and then shut it down for the year. Indiana never replaced that production. They haven't been outstanding this year, but did already pick up a conference win against what appears to be a decent Illinois team, and won a pair of close OOC games. This isn't 2020 Indiana, but with a win here, they seem to have a pretty good shot at a bowl bid. They have seemingly built on that 2020 season in recruiting, both with transfers and high schoolers. They brought in 15 players from the transfer portal, and their highest rated recruiting class in the 247 era. While the transfer, led by Missouri transfer quarterback Connor Bazelak have gotten most of the press, the freshmen have also helped bolster the Hoosiers. The biggest impact freshman is linebacker Dasan McCullough. The 4* edge rusher from right there in Bloomington, turned down offers from Ohio State and Alabama, to stay home, as the highest rated recruit of the 247 era, and he has made an immediate impact. Tom Allen turned that 2020 season into results on the recruiting trail. Even though 2021 was a step back, and despite playing in arguably the best recruiting division in college football, the ground work appears to be solid. But while they are slightly better than 2021, and Cincinnati is a half step worse, we are still just 4 games removed from this being a 2-10 team vs. a CFP participant. |