TAMPA, Florida (AP) – Indiana’s No. 7 will let anything stain your enthusiasm.
Surrounded by a spot in a New Year’s Six game despite their most productive start since 1993 and their seven-point loss to PSC Ohio State, the Hoosiers (6-1) will close an escape season against Mississippi (4-5) at Saturday’s Outback Bowl.
“We were disappointed with what happened to the New Year’s Six Bowl game, but we used it as fuel for the fireplace,” said offensive side Stevie Scott III.
“It’s been 29 years since we last won a bowling game,” quarterback Jack Tuttle said. “We are fighting and doing everything we can to be on the most productive stage imaginable on Saturday to win. “
Indiana has not won a postseason since defeating Baylor 24-0 at the 1991 Copper Bowl. The Hoosiers are betting consecutive games in January for the first time in the show’s history, and outback vacations are a return to the roots or for coach Tom Allen and several of his players.
The Indiana list includes 22 players from the beginning of Florida, 10 from the Tampa Bay area, where Allen in the past trained the ball in high school and then returned to paintings as an assistant coach at the USF, who plays his home games at Raymond. James Stadium.
Tuttle, a transfer from Utah, will cause his moment to begin for the Hoosiers in the position of one of the Tampa area products, Michael Penix, Jr. , who suffered a knee injury last season that may have derailed Indiana in the past. Instead, Hoosier recovered from Tuttle and beat Wisconsin 14-6 in what turned out to be the only game the team played last month.
“This game helped me a lot to gain confidence,” Tuttle said. “Now it’s not your first way out, it’s time to get your feet wet. “
Mississippi, which will be at a numerical disadvantage due to some retirement and injury characteristics, is in a bowling game for the first time in five years. The rebels also faced COVID-19 problems, however Coach Lane Kiffin said there was never really any consultation. about whether the team would make it to Florida.
“It will be difficult. They are very good . . . His defeat is opposed to Ohio State through a scoreboard,” Kiffin said of Indiana.
“We are dealing with injuries, opt-out and VOCD,” Kiffin added. “We’re a little short of players, which isn’t ideal when you’re a rhythm offensive. But that’s what it is.
EXPLOSIVE OFFENSE
Despite wasting five out of nine games on a SoutheastErn Conference calendar, Mississippi has had one of the most prolific offenses in the country. The rebels averaged 562. 4 yards and 40. 7 game-consistent problems, with Quarterback Matt Corral throwing 2,995 yards and 27 touchdowns while running 469 yards and 4 more TDs.
The challenge that a porous defender won 40. 3 points and the worst of 535. 7 yards consistent with the game in the team’s first season with Kiffin.
BIG DEFENSE
Penix has played a role in Indiana’s good fortune this season, however, the defensive led by supporter Micah McFadden has also done his part. The Hoosiers averaged 19. 4 points and 361. 7 total yards. They led the country with 17 interceptions, even though Indiana played alone. seven games.
WE ALSO PLAY OFFENSE
Scott and receiver Ty Fryfogle are key to the Indiana offensive. Scott ran for 462 yards and eight touchdowns and Fryfogle has 34 receptions for 687 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Tuttle calls Fryfogle, a Mississippi native, a “special” player.
“He is and makes my task much easier, ” said the quarterback.
RARE PAIRING
This will be the first inter-school assembly. In fact, it is rare for Ole Miss to face an opponent of the Big Ten.
Rebels oppose existing Big Ten members 2-4. They have not faced a team in this league since their victory over Nebraska at the 2002 Independence Bowl. The Cornhuskers were members of the Big 12 at the time.
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