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The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/hythloday1 on 2026-01-08 15:07:01+00:00.

Earlier this season I wrote a preview for the week 7 matchup with Indiana for SB Nation’s Oregon site, Addicted to Quack, and since they’re rematched in the college football playoff semifinals it’s time for an update along with my questions for fans. Here’s my film study preview of Indiana’s current team, including video documentation, a podcast interview with my counterpart and friend L.C. Norton, and charting data from the entire season:

addictedtoquack.com/…/duck-tape-film-analysis-upd…

My questions for Indiana fans:

  1. Any trends I’ve missed, or players I’m being unfair to?
  2. My interpretation was that the change in the offense was to get more “January-ready”, as a response to some of their tougher games. That is, the RPO tore up these robotic Big Ten defenses, but that’s not who they’d see in the playoffs, so they needed to get more versatile. The result statistically is actually a somewhat less punchy offense since they had given up the Big Ten buzzsaw while still in conference play but valuable nonetheless for having weeks of live game experience. Do you think that interpretation is correct?
  3. I know hindsight is 20/20, but not seriously utilizing Becker until week 11 seems absolutely bananas. What’s the explanation there, and do you think there’s a risk that the offense has become too dependent on him?
  4. At this point I can’t detect any statistical tells between Black and Hemby - which back is in doesn’t predict the playcall at all, they have identical pass pro grades and per-carry rates over the last six games, and they’re not really used in the passing game so I can’t use that as separation. Is there something I’m missing, do you think?
  5. I think Nowakowski’s reliability in clutch situations as a target and Becker’s viability as a blocker have essentially eliminated the need for Staes on the field, or at least I expect that to be so. Is that going too far?
  6. Who do you think the offensive line starters will be in the Peach Bowl? I was joking with L.C. that if they could clone Ajani they might go with him and his new twin at RG and RT - what do you think?
  7. I think the way they’ve dealt with the unfortunate defensive line injuries – bumping Landino over, increasing Ratcliff’s rep share, and promoting Ndukwe – has been logical but points up how tight the defense is on depth. How do you think this team fares in a knock-down drag-out, or if it goes to overtime?
  8. The variety of simulated pressure packages was really impressive, I clocked two new ones as late as the Rose Bowl (hardly necessary, but still fun). I speculated that using the linebackers, particularly Hardy and Jones, in unexpected ways to get pressure has become essential given the defensive end situation - do you think that’s true?
  9. I know they’ve been rare but I’m puzzled by the alternate defensive back configurations when they deal with super heavy offensive sets and go to the 5-3-3 defense. It’s the only time I ever see them flip around their otherwise very strict field/boundary rules for the DBs. Can you shed any light on why that is, and do you think the 5-3-3 is still an option?
  10. My contention is that the fieldside coverage is not as strong as the boundaryside coverage, and furthermore I’m baffled why opposing OCs haven’t gone after the field more. Who’s crazy here, me or Big Ten OCs?