This will be fairly short and sweet-- what can one really say about this game? It was not particularly nerve-wracking. Sure, it got a bit tight at the end with the onsides kick (and losing Persa), but for the majority of this game, while a bit frustrating as a fan that the lead was not larger, there was no doubt that the 'Cats were in control, especially after the FG drive at the end of the first half. The 'Cats took care of the football, took a lead, ran out the clock, and held on to win on the road.
It was pretty obvious that Indiana, as all of the other Big Ten opponents have done, was pretty much daring NU to run. The result was the first 100-yd rusher since Mike Kafka ran for 217 vs Minnesota Tyrell Sutton ran for 100+ in the Alamo Bowl (anyone else catch that on BTN?). The O-Line opened up some serious holes and Trumpy powered through them for the most impressive day by an NU running back in quite some time.
To be sure, the 'Cats ground performance against the "vaunted Hoosier run defense" probably will not strike a ton of fear into the hearts of the Fighting JoePas this week, but we must not forget the very underrated performance against the actual vaunted Spartan run defense the week prior. If the 'Cats can run just enough to open things back up for NAILS, look out...
EVAN MF-ING WATKINS!!!! That huge third down conversion was ALL MUSTACHE. He also continues to bolster his reputation as the best victory formation quarterback in college football.
Defensively, but for an unfortunate brainfart on a 4th-and-10 Hail Mary, the 'Cats would have held the best passing offense in the Big Ten without a touchdown through the air-- something even the everyone-jump-on-the-bandwagon-now-because-they-beat-bad-teams Illini could not do. They did not have any sacks against perhaps the most immobile quarterback they will face this season, which one could perhaps not be happy about, but for all those who, perhaps, doubted Jordan Mabin at the beginning of the season, he had two pass breakups (three vs MSU), and now has eight on the season.
Further evidence that nobody really knows what a "Hoosier" is: On Hailtopurple.com's "record counter" on the left side of the page, there is a small icon (generally humorous in nature) representing every team the 'Cats have beaten. For IU, while a depiction of an "Indiana resident" could open up some possibilities given the Urban Dictionary definition of Hoosier, there is just simply the IU logo. We feel your pain...
