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Michigan State football opponents: Can Indiana rebound after massive collapse last year?

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Notice: That is the ninth a part of a sequence previewing Michigan State soccer’s 2022 schedule. Beforehand: Nonconference video games | Minnesota | Maryland | Ohio State | Wisconsin | Michigan | Illinois | Rutgers

Nov. 19 vs. Indiana (Time TBA)

2021 file: 2-10

Coach: Tom Allen, sixth season (26-32 profession file as a head coach at Indiana since making debut in 2016 Foster Farms Bowl)

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Offensive participant to look at: QB Connor Bazelak

Bazelak, an offseason switch from Missouri, nonetheless has to win a quarterback competitors. However, given his veteran expertise and that Indiana misplaced its prime offensive gamers – together with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. – Bazelak is an effective option to regulate heading into the autumn.

A former four-star prospect from Ohio, Bazelak competed 66.4 p.c of his passes (479-for-721) for five,084 yards, 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 24 video games with 20 begins over three seasons at Missouri. After being named the SEC Co-Freshman of the 12 months in 2020, he threw for profession highs of two,574 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 11 video games final 12 months earlier than coming into the portal and transferring to Indiana.

Defensive participant to look at: CB Tiawan Mullen

Mullen is coming off a season by which he was restricted to solely seven video games with 4 begins on account of damage and posted 19 tackles and three go break-ups. He’s now again for his senior 12 months and brings veteran expertise and expertise to the secondary.

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After a standout true freshman season whereas making eight begins and taking part in all 13 video games, Mullen was named a primary workforce All-American by the Soccer Writers Affiliation of America in 2020. He was the primary cornerback in program historical past to earn that honor and chosen because the workforce’s defensive participant of the 12 months. Mullen has 86 profession tackles, together with eight for a loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, 20 go break-ups, three pressured fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

All-time sequence: Michigan State leads 49-17-2. After being shut out 24-0 in 2020, the Spartans gained 20-15 at Indiana final 12 months. Michigan State has gained 19 of the final 23 matchups courting again to 1995.

Key storyline: Can Indiana rebound after huge collapse final 12 months?

After posting a 5-7 file in every of his first two seasons main this system, Allen guided Indiana to an 8-5 end in 2019, adopted by 6-2 in 2020. He was named nationwide coach of the 12 months by the American Soccer Coaches Affiliation in 2020 and that was adopted by signing a brand new seven-year contract with a elevate.

With the highlight on the Hoosiers and expectations ramped up, they collapsed final fall. Indiana misplaced all 9 Large Ten video games in a 2-10 end with the lone wins coming in opposition to Idaho and Western Kentucky. There have been a slew of accidents that contributed to the steep decline and this system regressed considerably on each side of the ball.

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Allen is now tasked with pulling his workforce again off the mat and made notable adjustments within the offseason. There are 5 new assistant coaches, together with new coordinators, and Allen goes again to calling performs on protection.

There have been notable roster losses for the Hoosiers, who added 13 gamers from the switch portal and signed a 2022 recruiting class that ranked twenty sixth within the nation within the 247Sports Composite.

Now coming off its worst season since 2011, exterior expectations for Indiana are a lot completely different than a 12 months in the past. Nonetheless, Allen is assured adjustments made within the offseason will assist the Hoosiers bounce again.

Opponent overview:

Indiana ranked 123rd within the nation in scoring (17.2) and 124th in whole offense (290.0) final season and that led to a change. Allen fired offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan and took a $200,000 pay lower for the following three seasons to make a brand new rent. He changed Sheridan with Walt Bell, who spent the earlier three years as the top coach at Massachusetts.

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Bell will first have to decide on a quarterback after the place was a multitude final 12 months. Penix struggled early within the 12 months earlier than struggling his fourth straight season-ending damage after which transferring to Washington. Bazelak brings expertise to the room and his prime competitors for the job seems to be fifth-year senior Jack Tuttle, who accomplished 51.7 p.c of his passes (45-for-87) for 423 yards, two touchdowns and 5 interceptions in six video games with two begins. Donaven McCulley began 4 video games as a real freshman however has reportedly moved to broad receiver.

Prime receiver Ty Fryfogle used his remaining season of eligibility final 12 months whereas fellow starter Miles Marshall transferred out. D.J. Matthews, a former switch from Florida State, is recovering from a torn ACL that restricted him to 13 catches for 165 yards in 4 video games final season. Transfers additions will assist fill out the room as Emery Simmons had 30 catches for 516 yards and three touchdowns in 30 video games over three seasons at North Carolina and Andison Colby arrives after one season at Tennessee. Cam Camper, a JUCO addition, might additionally make a right away affect.

The Hoosiers additionally want to exchange beginning tight finish Peyton Hendershot, who led the workforce in receiving final 12 months with 46 catches for 543 yards and 4 touchdowns. A.J. Barner might take over because the starter after posting 14 receptions for 162 yards and a landing final season.

Main rusher Stephen Carr (155 carries, 600 yards, six touchdowns) used his remaining season of eligibility final 12 months whereas Davion Ervin-Poindexter (44 carries, 226 yards, one landing) transferred out. The Hoosiers adopted by rebuilding their backfield with the assistance of the portal. Shaun Shivers had 201 carries for 1,020 yards and eight touchdowns in 43 video games over 4 seasons at Auburn whereas Josh Henderson had 41 rushes for 209 yards in 23 video games over three years at North Carolina.

The offensive line returns a trio of standard starters in left deal with Luke Haggard, left guard Mike Katic and Matthew Bedford, who began at proper guard, proper deal with and left guard final season whereas being named an All-Large Ten honorable point out. Former Michigan switch Zach Carpenter made three begins at proper guard in 5 video games final 12 months and likewise has expertise at heart.

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Defensive coordinator Charlton Warren left after just one season for North Carolina and Allen crammed the spot by hiring Chad Wilt, who coached the line of defense at Minnesota the final two years. With a brand new voice within the room and Allen calling the performs, the Hoosiers will try to enhance a bunch that ranked 71st within the nation whole protection (384.6) final 12 months and 109th in scoring protection (33.2).

Linebacker Micah McFadden, who led the workforce in tackles (77), tackles for a loss (15.5) and sacks (6.5) final 12 months was picked within the NFL draft and leaves a serious void. Cam Jones, a two-time workforce captain, returns for a fifth 12 months and the linebacker completed with 64 tackles and one sack final season. Aaron Casey brings veteran expertise to the place and the Hoosiers added from the portal, together with Bradley Jennings Jr., who had 68 tackles, together with 9 for a loss, in 35 video games over 5 years at Miami.

Beginning defensive deal with Demarcus Elliott (29 tackles) is again, as is Alfred Bryant (26 tackles), who began all 12 video games on the bull place. Defensive finish James Head is coming off an injury-shortened season however has 58 tackles, together with 10 for a loss, and 4 sacks in 39 profession video games. The Hoosiers additionally added JH Tevis, a defensive finish switch from Cal who was named an All-Pac 12 honorable point out final 12 months and will additionally play inside this 12 months.

Allen believes the secondary is the power of the workforce and he has veteran expertise returning on the again finish. Along with Mullen, fellow cornerbacks Jaylin Williams and Noah Pierre deliver beginning expertise. Williams had 41 tackles and 11 go break-ups final season and is the workforce’s energetic chief with six profession interceptions whereas Pierre posted 36 tackles, one interception and 4 go break-ups. Indiana misplaced beginning security Raheem Layne however Devon Matthews returns after recording 55 tackles, together with 4 for a loss, one sack, one interception and 4 go break-ups whereas being named the workforce’s defensive participant of the 12 months. Bryant Fitzgerald had 41 tackles, together with 5.5 for a loss, and has expertise at each security and the husky place.

On particular groups, punter James Evans returns after the New Zealand native averaged 41.9 yards per try with 12 of at the very least 50 yards and 13 downed contained in the 20 as a real freshman. Veteran kicker Charles Campbell is 25-for-31 on discipline objective makes an attempt in his profession with an extended of 55. Previous to struggling the torn ACL, D.J. Matthews had an 81-yard punt return landing.

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