Indiana Football Game Preview: Northwestern – key question, injury report, how to watch

Indiana football heads into week 6 of the season as the No. 23rd ranked team in the country while also being one of the few unbeaten teams that currently stand. For this week, the Hoosiers travel to Northwestern to face the Wildcats.

Indiana enters the matchup with a national ranking in the AP and Coaches Poll for the first time since Week 1 of the 2021 season.

Indiana football is coming off a big win last week over Maryland which saw them improve to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in the Big Ten. Maryland currently is 2-2 on the year and winless in the conference (0-1)

Kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.

Below is a full preview of Saturday’s contest.

Read: IU football coaches, players ‘could feel the fans out there’ in Saturday’s win

Key Question

Indiana football is ranked. Are the Hoosiers ready for the pressure? 

Slowly but surely, Indiana football is becoming one of the more talked about teams across the entire landscape. From Curt Cignetti showing loads of confidence in his ability as a coach to showing that was he was saying is true, fans of college football have started to buy into the idea that the Hoosiers are legit a playoff contender.

After starting the 5-0 on the year and winning nearly every game in dominating fashion, the Hoosiers entered the AP Top 25 poll at No. 23.

Now that the Hoosiers are ranked, are they ready for this pressure? Every team that is listed in the top 25 are currently teams that are projected to have a shot in competing for their conference championships as well as a spot in the College Football Playoffs.

Every game from this point out is super important for Indiana. If they keep winning, the more serious they will be viewed as a threat in the Big Ten.

It starts on Saturday. The Hoosiers cannot afford a to fall into a ‘trap game’ vs a very poor Northwestern team.

Related: 3 Storylines to watch for when Indiana football faces Northwestern in Week 6

Matchup History

For the first time since the 2019 season and the 83rd time in program history, Indiana will play Northwestern in Evanston on Saturday afternoon.

The matchup will mark the first time the two teams have played in Evanston since the 2016 season. Northwestern owns the advantage in the all-time series, 47-35-1. Indiana won the last matchup in 2019, but Northwestern has won five of the last six meetings.

In the 2019 matchup, the Hoosiers bested the Wildcats, 34-3, to push Indiana’s record to 7-2 on the season.

Watch: Indiana football head coach Curt Cignetti previews Week 6 matchup vs. Northwestern

Injury Updates

No key injuries to monitor this week.

More: Indiana Football WR Donaven McCulley is entering the transfer portal

Quick Hitters

Who?: #23 Indiana (5-0) (2-0 B1G) at Northwestern (2-2)(0-1)

When?: Saturday, Oct. 5th | 3:30 ET

Where?: Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium (Evanston, Ill.)

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: Indiana Hoosiers Sports Network

Spread: Indiana is a 13.5-point favorite and the over/under is set at 41.5 points per DraftKings SportsBook

SEE ALSO: Indiana football projected to make College Football Playoffs

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