Indiana, Nebraska ready to square off following open dates as they try to stay near top of Big Ten

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

It’s a surprisingly key midseason Big Ten battle for two teams not projected to be in this position. Nebraska was picked to finish eighth in the expanded 18-team conference. Indiana was picked 17th. Now unbeaten Indiana shares the Big Ten lead with No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State, and there’s even talk of a possible playoff bid. The Cornhuskers sit one game behind the leaders and are one win from becoming eligible to play in their first bowl since 2016.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska’s defensive front vs. Indiana’s offensive line. The Cornhuskers lead the Big Ten in sacks per game (3.3), rank second in points allowed (11.3) and third in run defense (84.2 yards). But Indiana’s offense is dangerous. It leads the conference in scoring (47.5 points) and passing (315.3 yards) while averaging 200.3 yards on the ground. It’s a classic matchup of strength vs. strength.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nebraska: QB Dylan Raiola. The true freshman has changed the trajectory of the program. Raiola has thrown for nine TDs with only three interceptions, but he struggled in the second half against Rutgers in the last game. Raiola’s only road game so far was at struggling Purdue, making this his first major road test.

Indiana: QB Kurtis Rourke. The former Mid-American Conference star has made quite an impression in his first Big Ten season. He’s won the Big Ten’s player of the week award twice, shares the conference lead with 14 TD passes and has a league-best rating of 192.1 while throwing just two interceptions and taking only five sacks. This will be the best defense Indiana has played.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Hoosiers are off to their best start since the 1967 Rose Bowl season. That’s the only other time they were 7-0. … Nebraska has won six of the last seven in the series, the only loss coming in Lincoln in 2019. … Indiana’s last home win in the series was a 54-14 blowout in 1945. … The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten with 23 TD runs this season. Ty Son Lawton has seven scores. Justice Ellison has six. … Nebraska scored a season-best 40 points in a season-opening win over UTEP. Indiana has topped the 40-point mark in all six games and each victory has come by 14 or more points.