Indiana football vs Washington preview in Big Ten action

BLOOMINGTON — The real Hoosier Hysteria is happening at Memorial Stadium this weekend. 

Indiana football will welcome ESPN’s College GameDay to campus and have another sold out crowd on hand for its game against Washington. 

The No. 13 Hoosiers (7-0; 4-0 Big Ten) have a chance to match the program’s best ever start as one of just nine unbeaten teams left in the country.  

Jump into our weekly preview, The Runout, for what stood out during the week, players to watch, a prediction and more:

Indiana football vs. Washington: Tale of the tape

• When: Saturday, Oct. 26 at 12:00 p.m. ET
• Where: Memorial Stadium (52,626), Bloomington, Indiana
• TV: Big Ten Network 
• Line: Indiana -6.5
• Series: Indiana leads 2-1
• Last meeting: Washington def. Indiana, 38-13, on Sept. 6, 2003

More: Indiana football: How QB Tayven Jackson compares to other Big Ten backups

Indiana football players to watch vs Washington

Tayven Jackson, QB: Who else?

Jackson steps into the starting lineup while Kurtis Rourke recovers from a thumb injury he suffered against Nebraska. The redshirt-sophomore looked sharp in his most extended action of the season in the second half as he closed out a 56-7 win over the Cornhuskers. 

It was still a limited sample size — he only dropped back to pass nine times — and he benefited from coming into the game with a 28-7 lead. 

Jackson’s goal against Washington will be to avoid the type of uneven performance that cost him the starting job last year. He’s still known for bouts of inconsistency in practice as Cignetti has noted on multiple occasions.  

One way Jackson can do that is by taking a page from Rourke and avoiding negative plays. In seven starts, Rourke was only sacked six times on 202 drop backs and turned it over four times (three interceptions). 

The good news for Jackson is that Cignetti has upgraded just about every facet of the offense from last season. The Hoosiers have a much improved run game — they averaged 6.5 yards per carry last week against one of the best run defenses in the country — and their offensive play-calling has been tremendous. 

Justice Ellison, RB: That aforementioned rushing attack will be as important as ever on Saturday. 

Ellison had his fifth ever 100-yard game (second for IU) last week despite only carrying the ball nine times, but it was his early success — he had a 43-yard gain and a touchdown on the opening drive — that set the tone in the win. 

The Cornhuskers hadn’t allowed a rushing touchdown all season before the Wake Forest transfer punched it in from the 5-yard line. 

Washington comes to Bloomington having struggled against the run this season. In the team’s three losses, the Huskies have given up 540 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and six touchdowns. They have allowed only 3.4 yards per carry and one rushing touchdown in four wins. 

That stark difference lays out a clear path to victory for the Hoosiers. 

Terry Jones Jr., S: The change Indiana made in the starting secondary was a notable one since the team had kept the same starting lineup on both sides of the ball through the first six games. 

Amare Ferrell shifted over to strong safety in place of Josh Sanguinetti and Jones took over Ferrell’s spot at rover. It was the Old Dominion transfer’s first start for the Hoosiers, but he didn’t play like someone who sat on the bench for a half the season. 

Jones had six tackles (four solo) with four quarterback pressures. He allowed a two-yard game the only time he was targeted. 

“He’s done a nice job on special teams,” Cignetti said. “Got an opportunity on Saturday. An aggressive player. Played a lot of football. Had over a hundred tackles at ODU last season.”

Washington starting quarterback Will Rogers will be a big test for the group. Rogers is one of the highest graded quarterbacks in the country (96.3) on throws of 20-yards or more, according to Pro Football Focus. He is 12 of 23 at that passing depth with 399 yards and six touchdowns.

Mind Your Banners: Rourke out, Jackson in for GameDay visit from Washington

Indiana football: Week 8 Odds and Ends

NSYNC: Indiana’s offensive line bullied Nebraska’s talented front seven. They only allowed two tackles for loss on 33 rush attempts and one sack. “I’m not surprised by what they did on Saturday,” Cignetti said. “Not at all.” The starting line has played every snap together outside of mop up time and that’s made a real difference, according to Cignetti. “They’re on the same page,” he said. “They function really well together.”

Stress relief: Washington coach Jedd Fisch said a benefit of IU outscoring opponents 80-0 in the first quarter is that they haven’t faced any of the “play caller anxiety” that pops up when a coach sees a deficit on the scoreboard. Fisch said the Hoosiers playing out front all season — they are only one of two teams in the country that haven’t trailed yet — has allowed them to settle into an impressive offensive rhythm. 

Frequent fliers: Big Ten teams have struggled on cross-country road trips. Indiana is one of the few teams that avoided a let down after traveling multiple time zones when it visited UCLA earlier this season. Through the first seven weeks of the season, the visiting team was 2-11 in those conference games. Washington will face the added challenge of a noon kickoff (9:00 a.m. local time). The Huskies faced the same scenario in a 40-16 loss to Iowa. 

More: Indiana football’s new-look starting secondary helps defense reach new heights

Indiana football stat of the week

245: Per ESPN’s Max Olson, Indiana has the largest margin of victory through seven games since 2020. The number ranks ahead of the last three national champions — 2023 Michigan (229), 2022 Georgia (228) and 2021 Georgia (223). Indiana has the top ranked scoring offense in the country (48.7 points) and seventh ranked scoring defense (13.7 points allowed). 

More: ‘We riding with him’: Indiana football QB Tayven Jackson has backing of his teammates

Indiana football quote of the week

“We have 100% confidence and the team has 100% confidence, I have confidence, the staff has confidence in Tayven Jackson,” Indiana coach Curt Cignetti

More: After spending lives in football, Sunseri brothers finally share a field for IU-Washington

Prediction: Indiana 28, Washington 20

Washington is capable of spoiling IU’s undefeated season if it can get past the reoccurring red zone woes that have plagued its offense this season. The Huskies have outgained every single one of their opponents — they have a top 25 offense that’s averaging more than 450 yards per game — but just haven’t been able to put enough points on the board. 

They also have a quarterback in Will Rogers that’s more experienced (47 career starts) than anyone the Hoosiers will face all season. 

Why still give Indiana the edge? Cignetti has earned the benefit of the doubt even with a backup quarterback in the starting lineup. He’s coached this team into a playoff contender and has passed every test thrown his way. 

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.