The basics of winning football don’t change for Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, regardless of whether his team is preparing to hammer Indiana State 73-0, as it did last week, or girding for a Big Ten Conference showdown.
“Line of scrimmage, turnover ratio, battle of explosives, being good in critical situations,” Cignetti said on Monday. “Never really has changed.”
The 19th-ranked Hoosiers (3-0) have done those things easily in the non-conference run-up to Saturday night’s marquee matchup against ninth-ranked Illinois (3-0) in Bloomington, Ind.
But can Indiana accomplish its goals in those areas against a Top 10 foe in the conference opener?
For that matter, can the Fighting Illini succeed against their first ranked opponent of the season?
The answers won’t identify a conference champion in late September, but they might give the winner a big boost toward favorable positioning for the College Football Playoff in December.
It can be argued this is the biggest Indiana-Illinois matchup in its 75 encounters, dating to 1899. It’s only the second time the teams have both been nationally ranked when they met. The other time was in 1950.
The programs have reached this point in different methods. The Hoosiers have risen meteorically under Cignetti, who drew guffaws last year when he said, “Google me, I win.”
Those who laughed then don’t now as Cignetti has used the transfer portal effectively to build a team that dominates at the scrimmage line.
An already experienced offensive line added Notre Dame transfer Pat Coogan, who slid into the center spot. The defensive front landed Hosea Wheeler (Western Kentucky) and Kellan Wyatt (Maryland) to go with returning third-team All-America end Mikail Kamara.
Cignetti said he has a good team. He also knows Saturday night’s opponent is good. And he sees one major similarity.
“Very much kind of like us, (a) good core (returning) that understands what it takes,” Cignetti said.
Illinois is coming off a 38-0 blanking last week against Western Michigan, although the game was close for a half. But the Illini turned a 10-0 lead into the predicted beatdown by scoring on their first three possessions of the second half.
Coach Bret Bielema, whose program took a more measured approach reaching championship contention than Indiana, knows that kind of sputtering start won’t be optimal this week.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “They just don’t have penalties and mental breakdowns. You can have a good offense and defense, but when your special teams fall in line, that’s when you know you have it.”
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has it, too. He’s completed 71.8 percent of his passes for 709 yards and eight touchdowns this season, with no interceptions.
Meanwhile, Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza has been even more accurate for Indiana, at 72.4 percent, and checks in at 708 yards with nine scores and no picks. But he’ll have to do without a key offensive weapon for the year’s remainder as running back Lee Beebe Jr. injured his right knee against Indiana State.