Indiana Hoosiers Aim for 20th Straight Win Against Northwestern Wildcats
No. 5 Indiana hosts Northwestern on Friday, looking to extend their winning streak against a Wildcats team showing offensive promise.
The No. 5-ranked Indiana Hoosiers are set to host Northwestern on Friday, seeking their 20th consecutive victory. The Hoosiers have amassed a 19-game winning streak, including their most recent 38-0 shutout of Western Kentucky, marking their second consecutive clean sheet.
Indiana enters the matchup as 20.5-point favorites over the undefeated Wildcats. While some have questioned Indiana's offensive consistency this season, their defense has been a dominant force, not allowing any points in the last nine quarters of play. This defensive performance has come against lesser competition, but the back-to-back shutouts are a notable achievement.
On the offensive side, Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover has been efficient, completing 37 of 51 passes for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns with no interceptions. Despite this strong start, the Hoosiers' offense is currently rated as the seventh-best in college football by Bill Connelly's SP+ metric.
Northwestern, under the guidance of coach Chip Kelly and quarterback Aidan Chiles, presents a more significant offensive challenge. The Wildcats are coming off a 41-point performance against Colorado, where Chiles threw for three touchdowns and 241 yards. Chiles and the Northwestern offense are expected to test Indiana's defense.
Despite Northwestern's offensive capabilities, the prediction favors Indiana's ability to score. The game is projected to go over 49.5 points, with Hoosiers quarterback Hoover expected to lead his team to a strong offensive showing.