FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (52,929) — Bloomington, Indiana.
Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: UNT 2-1, Indiana 1-0. Away Record:
UNT 0-1, Indiana 1-1. Neutral Record: UNT 0-0, Indiana 0-0. Conference Record:
UNT 0-1, Indiana 0-0. Series Record: North Texas leads, 1-0.
GAME NOTES: The Indiana Hoosiers will play in their final non-conference game
of the season when they host the North Texas Mean Green at Memorial Stadium on
Saturday afternoon.
North Texas, from Conference USA, owns a 2-2 mark as it enters this contest.
The Mean Green were idle last weekend following a 77-3 beatdown of FCS foe
Nicholls on Sept. 20. UNT’s results have all featured rather disparate scores,
with losses to Texas (38-7) and Louisiana Tech (42-21), and a win over SMU
(43-6).
Indiana, representing the Big Ten Conference, owns a 2-2 record as well. The
Hoosiers played their conference opener last weekend and got smoked by league
newcomer Maryland, 37-15. The loss was a huge letdown on the heels of their
upset win at Missouri the week prior (31-27).
In the only other meeting between these two programs, the Mean Green earned a
24-21 victory at home during the 2011 season.
Obviously, North Texas is not going to replicate its offensive performance
against Nicholls anytime soon. The Mean Green pounded out 526 yards and scored
11 touchdowns. On the season, the Mean Green averages 37 points per game, but
the club has been rather anemic in terms of yardage gained (313 ypg).
Dajon Williams made his first career start against Nicholls and looked great,
although the level of competition certainly helped. He completed 11-of-14 pass
attempts for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Williams also showed a ton of
speed out of the backfield, as he led the team with 68 yards and two scores on
only four carries.
The big debut was a nice start, but now Williams will have to prove that he
can be an effective playmaker against teams at the FBS level. He’ll get his
first chance this weekend.
Working with Williams in the passing game is Carlos Harris (13 receptions,
142 yards, TD), who is the only player on the roster with 10 or more
receptions, or 100 receiving yards.
The lack of success through the air is partially due to North Texas’ reliance
on the running game, which Williams should help improve. Reggie Pegram (214
yards, three TDs), Erick Evans (150 yards, three TDs) and Antoinne Jimmerson
(141 yards, two TDs) have been the biggest producers.
North Texas logged a whopping 10 sacks in the win over Nicholls, and is now
tied for first in C-USA in the category. However, the Mean Green had only
eight quarterback takedowns in the first three games, so expectations should
be tempered. As a unit, UNT is letting up 22.2 points and 307.8 yards per
game, leading the league in total defense.
Chad Polk (4.5 sacks) is the best pass rusher, while James Jones (14 tackles,
two INTs) has been a real playmaker for the unit.
Indiana did not have a particularly effective day on offense in its loss to
Maryland, as the team managed just 332 yards, although it did have just a
23-22 deficit in first downs.
The offensive output was a humongous step back for a unit that is averaging 29
points and 493.2 yards each week.
Just like North Texas, Indiana is a team that runs more than it throws. Tevin
Coleman has racked up 691 yards and seven touchdowns and helped Indiana post
1,137 yards rushing as a unit. Coleman leads the Big Ten in yards per game and
is second in the conference in rushing touchdowns. D’Angelo Roberts (257
yards, three TDs) has pitched in as well, while quarterback Nate Sudfeld has
tallied 74 yards and two scores on the ground.
Sudfeld has not been asked to throw much, and has not really been impressive
when he has. He has connected on only 57.4 percent of his pass attempts for
836 yards, while tallying as many touchdowns as interceptions with a pair of
each.
Shane Wynn (21 receptions, 235 yards) is the team’s leading receiver. Nick
Stoner (13 receptions, 164 yards) also has been reliable, while J-Shun Harris
II (12 receptions, 132 yards) has brought in both of Sudfeld’s scoring
strikes.
Picking up yards against the Hoosiers has not been an extremely difficult
task, as they yielding nearly 30 points and 432 yards per game. They didn’t
show much resistance against Maryland, allowing 484 total yards and an average
of seven yards per play.
Bobby Richardson (12 tackles, 3.0 sacks) leads the team in sacks, while
Antonio Allen (25 tackles) is the top player when it comes to total stops. He
is one of four players with at least 20 tackles.
It is unlikely that Coleman and the rest of the Indiana offense can be shut
down for a second straight week, especially against a North Texas squad that
has struggled against tougher competition.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Indiana 38, North Texas 24
