Former New York Yankee great Roger Maris once said, “You hit home runs not by chance, but by preparation.”
When the Hoosiers take the field Saturday at Yankee Stadium in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, do not let their 6-6 record fool you—their offense hits home runs by preparation.
After just making it to six wins and its first postseason appearance since the 2007 Insight Bowl, Indiana is looking to dominate the offensive side of the ball in the Big Apple this weekend to steal a postseason win from Duke and earn its first bowl victory since 1991. The Hoosiers suffered six losses during the regular season, but four of them came against top-15 foes, including then-No. 1 Ohio State by a touchdown and then-No. 15 Michigan in double overtime.
“Indiana had a really tough schedule. They had three or four top-15 teams they played against and played well and could have won any of them,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. “[They have] a great quarterback [and] a lot of skills on offense…. The challenge is for us to play our best game.”
Although baseball will not be on display at Yankee Stadium Saturday, expect Indiana to send the ball flying through the air against a Blue Devil secondary that will play without ACC Defensive Player of the Year Jeremy Cash, who underwent wrist surgery last week.
The Hoosiers’ high-powered offense scores 36.2 points per game—including 40 or more in its final three contests—and will ride late-season momentum into the showdown with the Blue Devils. Led by quarterback Nate Sudfeld, the Big Ten leader in passing yards per game with 289.5 and the program’s all-time leader with 58 passing touchdowns, the Indiana offense will look to launch the ball down the field early and often.
The biggest threat to a stumbling Duke defense might be the Hoosiers’ ability to make explosive plays—a Blue Devil weakness that was most clearly exposed against North Carolina earlier this season when the squad gave up 8.8 yards per play and three touchdowns of 45 or more yards. Indiana led the Big Ten in plays of 20 yards or more with 74, including 54 through the air.
Sudfeld will look to continue the home run trend by connecting over the top with wide receiver Simmie Cobbs Jr.—who recorded 54 receptions for 914 yards and four touchdowns during the regular season season—against a Duke secondary without its consensus All-American Cash.
“They put up a lot of points,” said Duke safety DeVon Edwards, who will shift over to cornerback in Cash's absence for a second straight game. “Their quarterback is very good and he’ll throw the ball up there. It’s all about finishing and making the play at the end.”
Making plays is easier said than done against an offense that makes few mistakes and rarely turns the ball over, though. Led by All-Americans Jason Spriggs and Dan Feeney, the Hoosier offensive line has kept Sudfeld comfortable in the pocket for much of the year, surrendering just 13 sacks.
With only six interceptions and five fumbles lost this season, Indiana has also protected the ball and avoided mistakes, which has helped keep head coach Kevin Wilson's squad in games late. If the trend continues, the Hoosiers may extend their six-game nonconference winning streak against a Duke team that lost 11 fumbles and threw seven picks this season.
“They didn’t turn it over is one of the other reasons they’re successful. They only had 11 turnovers for the year,” Duke head coach David Cutcliffe said. “They don’t give up sacks. They just don’t do much wrong because they’re extremely well-coached.”
Although Indiana boasts a highly-touted offense, its defense has been suspect, surrendering 37.1 points per game. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Marcus Oliver and senior defensive end Nick Mangieri will lead the way up front for the Hoosiers, who have a young secondary comprised of freshmen and sophomores that has been picked on throughout the season.
Oliver paces his team with 102 tackles and four forced fumbles, along with his two interceptions. Mangieri’s team-leading nine sacks and 11 tackles for loss hint at his ability to be in the Duke backfield throughout the afternoon as well, pressuring quarterback Thomas Sirk to move outside of the pocket.
Despite the potential for pressure off the edge, Sirk has stressed the importance of staying inside offensive coordinator Scottie Montgomery’s game plan to combat Indiana’s push up front.
The great Yankees of last century—Maris, Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle, among others—never played at the ball club's new home in the Bronx, N.Y. But if both teams hold true to form Saturday, then the Pinstripe Bowl might turn into yet another offensive showcase.
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