It had been a long time since an Indiana football team had been in this position. A record of 7-2 and a ranking in the polls for the first time since 1994. But they were heading up to Happy Valley to play a top-ten Penn State team fresh off a loss to Minnesota.
The game was ripe for a blowout. A very good Nittany Lions team trying to stay alive in the Big Ten and playoff chase was waiting for the Hoosiers in front of over 110,000 fans. They were coming off a tough loss and were looking for a big bounce-back game and the Hoosiers were their victims.