Indiana football’s admittedly cupcake-laden non-conference slate is officially in the rearview mirror. The Hoosiers won’t get a breather though, with No. 9 Illinois set to visit Bloomington next weekend.
It wouldn’t be hyperbole to call this the biggest game of the season even with No. 2 Penn State on the schedule. It might even be the most high-stakes game of Curt Cignetti’s tenure up to this point with the lone exception of last season’s College Football Playoff clash with Notre Dame and maybe the bout
with Ohio State.
The Hoosiers and Fighting Illini aren’t too different nationally or in the Big Ten. Both have been overlooked for years only to burst onto the scene with new coaches in Cignetti and Bret Bielema, respectively. Now the two have their eyes set on the playoff with Indiana having been there already and Illinois being a popular pick to make the field this season.
They’ll have to go through the other to get there.
Cignetti’s tenure up to this point speaks for itself. He took the Indiana job intent on shaking up the Big Ten landscape and immediately set multiple program records, including wins in a season. He wins everywhere he’s been (Google him, etc etc.)
Indiana fans already know all about Bret Bielema. The last time Illinois’ head coach took a team with high postseason expectations into Bloomington he was wearing Wisconsin Badgers cardinal red and walked out of Memorial Stadium with an 83-20 win to please the BCS metrics. The last time he walked into Memorial Stadium at all he left with a 23-20 loss to a far, far worse Indiana team. He’ll be looking to get back for that one.
As previously stated, Cignetti has talked the talk and mostly walked the walk. He’s lost his two games against high-caliber competition but he’s A. only had two of those so far, they’re special because they’re rare B. lost to last season’s champion and runner-up.
But at some point Cignetti’s gonna have to start cashing the checks mouth is writing. That approach worked to galvanize a long-suffering fanbase into believing in football, but it’s been met with a mixed reaction when Cignetti’s success gave him a national platform.
For Illinois, Saturday is a prime opportunity to prove its playoff bonafides and notch the key win last season’s Hoosiers lacked. For Indiana, it’s another shot to take down a highly touted opponent. Each has plenty on the line on and off the field.
