Bryant Haines put four defensive ends on the field together on third downs against Howard. Across the game, Keishaun Calhoun recorded two sacks, and Jacob Savage, Tobi Osunsanmi and Mario Landino added one apiece. Howard converted just two of 14 third downs as Indiana won 55-0. Then came the trouble with collecting the ball. Tyler Morris muffed two punts and lost one. Curt Cignetti said he misjudged both.
Indiana hosts Western Kentucky Saturday, September 19, at 4 p.m. ET on Peacock, with a 99.6% win probability. Expect a comfortable afternoon. The satisfying version would have the Hoosiers forcing punts, securing them and sending the offense out with another possession to use. No outside result carries enough benefit to warrant a rooting recommendation this week; the interactive guide and methodology have the broader outlook.
Haines' front gave fans a concrete response after Cignetti criticized missed assignments, poor tackling and insufficient disruption against North Texas. Against Howard, Indiana also got useful work from its replacement corners. Jaylen Bell and Ryland Gandy started with Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris held out. In his Monday review, Cignetti called Bell consistent and said both replacements had progressed, while acknowledging a couple of Gandy mistakes. That gives fans reason to trust the alternatives without assuming every coverage problem is settled.
The offense has a specific opportunity to make those possessions productive. Indiana kept the same starting offensive-line alignment against Howard and rushed for 296 yards on 46 attempts. An early 10-play drive included eight runs.
Western Kentucky allowed 323 rushing yards at Nevada and 234 at Georgia. Keep watching whether Indiana's blockers create enough room to make another handoff worthwhile. Those concessions give the Hoosiers an opening to sustain drives on the ground; they do not guarantee the blocks will get made.
Josh Hoover can help by taking the available completion. He threw four first-half touchdowns without an interception against Howard, but completed only six of 11 passes and took two sacks. Cignetti's Monday review identified three or four basic reads Indiana should have made. Enjoy the touchdown throws, and watch whether the ordinary passing downs become more dependable, too.
Special teams deserves attention beyond the returns. Paddy McAteer replaced the injured Nico Radicic against Howard and made seven of eight extra points. Whoever handles Saturday's kicks needs to finish the scoring possessions without giving points back.
Indiana won its last three meetings with WKU by a combined eight points. Fans can remember those close finishes without expecting another one. Northwestern visits for the conference opener six days later, on Friday, September 25. Indiana's rushing and defensive improvements still have to hold up against opponents such as Ohio State and Michigan later in the season. Saturday offers time to sharpen the small actions that preserve control. Make the read, finish the block and, when the defense forces a punt, secure the ball before thinking about the return.