Indiana and Nebraska are ready to face each other with dates still open as they try to stay near the top of the Big Ten

WHAT IS AT STAKE?

It’s a surprisingly important midseason Big Ten battle for two teams that aren’t expected to be in this position. Nebraska was selected to finish eighth in the expanded 18-team conference. Indiana was ranked 17th. Now undefeated Indiana shares the lead in the Big Ten with No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State, and there is even talk of a possible playoff bid. The Cornhuskers are one game behind the leaders and one win away from being eligible to play in their first bowl since 2016.

KEY MATCHUP

Nebraska’s defensive front vs. Indiana’s offensive line. The Cornhuskers lead the Big Ten in sacks per game (3.3), rank second in points allowed (11.3) and third in run defense (84.2 yards). But Indiana’s offense is dangerous. It leads the conference in scoring (47.5 points) and passing (315.3 yards) while averaging 200.3 yards on the ground. It’s a classic battle of strength versus strength.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Nebraska: QB Dylan Raiola. The true freshman changed the course of the program. Raiola has thrown nine TDs with just three interceptions, but in the last game against Rutgers he struggled in the second half. Raiola’s only previous away game was against Purdue, making this his first major away test.

Indiana: QB Kurtis Rourke. The former Mid-American Conference star made quite an impression in his first Big Ten season. He was named Big Ten Player of the Week twice, leads the conference with 14 touchdown passes and has the league’s best rating of 192.1 while throwing just two interceptions and recording just five sacks. This will be the best defense Indiana has ever played.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Hoosiers are off to their best start since the 1967 Rose Bowl season. That was the only other time they were 7-0. … Nebraska has won six of the last seven in the series, with its only loss coming in Lincoln in 2019. … Indiana’s last home win in the series was a 54-14 thrashing in 1945. … The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten with 23 TD runs this season. Ty Son Lawton had seven points. Judge Ellison has six. … Nebraska scored a season-best 40 points in its season-opening win over UTEP. Indiana has exceeded the 40-point mark in all six games, scoring 14 or more points in each win.