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Big Ten week 5 power rankings: The East, including Penn State, is dominating

By Alec Whitaker

Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports)
Penn State Nittany Lions defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports) /
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Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback Arquon Bush (9) breaks up a pass intended for Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Ty Fryfogle (3) in the third quarter of the NCAA football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Cincinnati Bearcats at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. The Bearcats won 38-24.Cincinnati Bearcats At Indiana Hoosiers Football /

. 2-2 (0-1). Previous: 11th. Hoosiers . 9. team. 813

Indiana got back in the win column this past weekend as they slipped past Western Kentucky 33-31.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 373 yards with a rushing touchdown, and most importantly didn’t turn the ball over, while running back Stephen Carr scored two touchdowns.

This game was a battle from start to finish and the Hoosiers showed a lot of fight to hold off a dangerous Western Kentucky offense on the road. Penix is the one who makes this team go. In Indiana’s two wins, he doesn’t have any turnovers, in their two losses, he has six turnovers.

Unfortunately for him, his second best wide receiver, D.J. Mathews Jr. was lost for the season on Saturday when he tore his ACL. Penix still has two great weapons in receiver Ty Fryfogle and tight end Peyton Hendershot to work with.

Indiana’s pass defense wasn’t great in this one, as Western Kentucky’s Bailey Zappe went 31-44 for 365 yards and three touchdowns.

That is notable, because the Hoosiers’ next game is against the red-hot Penn State Football passing attack at Beaver Stadium. Considering how last year’s game went between these two teams, this should be a good one, but also one that will let us know what to truly expect from Indiana this year.

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