At 2-3 with three losses to teams that are now ranked in the top five of the AP poll, there is still plenty of season left for the Indiana Hoosiers. Cincinnati’s win in South Bend made the Sept. 18 loss in Bloomington look much better, as the Hoosiers were able to at least keep it closer than the No. 14-ranked Fighting Irish did. The upcoming Penn State at Iowa game this coming Saturday will tell us more, but so far neither of those losses are looking catastrophic for Indiana’s bowl hopes either.
For all the reasons to remain optimistic, anyone who has watched Indiana play this year knows that the offense will need to shape up in order to salvage what is left of the 2021 season.