Nebraska football ranked No. 16 by Indiana

Matt McMaster offers his three keys for Nebraska football to succeed against No. 16 Indiana in Bloomington.

Win at the front

This game is all about the Nebraska defensive line. This Indiana offense is strong and balanced as it can beat you both on the ground and in the air. The big boys at the top, Nash Hutmacher, Ty Robinson and Co., have to play a big game for the Huskers to make a splash on the road.

Indiana has a two-headed monster in the backfield consisting of Ty Son Lawton and Justice Ellison. These two men set the tone for the offense. Don't let the flashy passport numbers fool you. Indiana is a great football team. They run the ball 55% of the time and average 4.7 yards per rush, using the battery of Lawton and Ellison to build their dynamic passing game.

If the Hoosiers can get their running game going, the Big Red will be more aggressive towards the line of scrimmage. Your corners will be aligned closer to the ball to set edges, safeties will be placed closer to the box to close gaps, and linebackers will get into their zones more slowly as they focus on stopping the run. This leaves the Big Red more vulnerable to play-action passes and RPOs.

That's what the Hoosiers do best.

When I watched the tape, I was most impressed by quarterback Kurtis Rourke's execution of the RPO plays. His gaze is directed downward, focused on spotting the cornerback. He shows incredible speed and confidence when getting the ball out of the running back and has the power to shoot it anywhere. Of 39 passes from RPOs, Rourke completed 33.

If Nebraska can't generate pressure in the middle, it's going to be a long day in Bloomington, Indiana.

Slow down the game

I can't emphasize enough how good this Indiana offense is. They do everything well. They run the ball effectively, protect the quarterback, can hurt you on the field, expose you with quick passes near the offensive line, and can score 40 points and still win the battle of possession.

Their diverse attacks allow them to compete well against anything the defense throws at them. The longer this team has the ball, the more you will lose.

That key lies in the Husker offense.

The Big Red will need to score around 30 points if they want to beat Indiana, but they also can't compete in a track race. They lose this fight, they lose this fight nine times out of ten. They take long, 10, 11, 12 plays that take up a lot of time and put seven points on the board.

Again, I cannot emphasize enough how terrible it is to go against this Curt Cignetti offensive. Three and outs are simply not an option on offense. If you don't want to score, you have to at least be on the field long enough for your defense to breathe a sigh of relief. The Big Red need a viable running game that can shorten the clock and great playmaking from OC Marcus Satterfield.

Special teams special teams special teams

I know this is becoming a common key, but it also applies to big matchups like this. In games where both teams are talented and well-coached, it almost always comes down to the point.

John Hohl will have placekicking duties on Saturday and the Huskers can't afford a repeat of his 0-3 field goal attempt against Purdue. The same goes for the punting unit, which gave up two blocks in its last contest against Rutgers. The competition is too tough and the scope is too small for mistakes in the third phase of the game to be swept under the carpet.

I expect this game to come down to a field goal. Whether Nebraska makes or misses that field goal will determine the outcome of this game.

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