Opponent Preview: What can Penn State fans expect from Indiana in 2023?

Penn State is just one week out from the start of the 2023 season. Expectations are as high as they’ve ever been under head coach James Franklin, as the Nittany Lions will start the year at No. 7 overall in both major polls. Between the excitement surrounding Drew Allar and a host of future NFL players, there’s no shortage of storylines to follow.

But their schedule also features marquee games throughout the 2023 season. Before shifting our focus to Indiana, Penn State fans can recap our previous opponent previews below.

West Virginia
Illinois
Iowa
Northwestern
Ohio State

Quick Facts

All-Time Series: Penn State leads 24-2
Last Meeting: Penn State held the host Hoosiers to 196 yards of total offense in a 45-14 romp on Nov. 5, 2022
Head Coach: Tom Allen (30-40 in six full seasons and one partial season at Indiana; career coaching record: same)
2022 Record: 4-8, 2-7 Big Ten
Returning Starters: 8 (5 offense, 2 defense, 1 specialist)

Returning Leaders

Rushing: RB Josh Henderson (398 yards, 4 TD)
Passing: QB Dexter Williams II (184 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: WR Cam Camper (569 yards, 2 TD)
Tackles: OLB Aaron Casey (86)
Sacks: S/OLB Noah Pierre (3)
Interceptions: DE Myles Jackson, S Josh Sanguinetti (1)

Link: Nate Bauer projects which offensive players will start for Penn State

What Could Go Right

The transfers could jell quickly, giving Indiana a lift on both sides of the ball en route to what the Hoosiers hope will be a return to bowl contention.

What Could Go Wrong

A front-loaded Big Ten schedule (Ohio State on opening day, followed by visits to Maryland and Michigan) could consign the Hoosiers to an 0-3 start in conference play, undermining confidence and morale in a season that may dictate Tom Allen’s future with the program.

Summary

It was only a couple of years ago that Indiana was being hailed as a team on the rise. The Hoosiers were coming off a 6-2 finish in 2020, a performance that included wins over Penn State and Michigan and a valiant effort in a 42-35 loss to Ohio State. After years of struggle, this long-suffering program finally had built some buzz.

Since then, however, coach Tom Allen’s team has gone 6-18, with only two of those victories coming against Big Ten opponents. Amid their skid, the Hoosiers suffered what may have been the country’s most significant transfer portal loss when talented but oft-injured quarterback Michael Penix Jr. headed to Washington after the 2021 season.

Penix stayed healthy and threw for 4,641 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season with the Huskies. Meanwhile, back in Bloomington, four quarterbacks combined to produce roughly half of Penix’s statistical output, totaling 2,586 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall.

If the Hoosiers are going to get their mojo back in 2023, they’re going to need some of their own portal acquisitions to pay off.

Freshman Tayven Jackson appears to be the most likely choice at quarterback after transferring from Tennessee, where he appeared in three games as a true freshman. Jackson was an On3 four-star prospect at Center Grove (Ind.) High, as well as the 12th-ranked pro-style quarterback nationally.

Earlier this week, Allen admitted that he has selected a starter but won’t announce who before the opener. Jackson is competing with redshirt freshman Brendan Sorsby. Whomever it is, the Hoosiers have to improve offensively after ranking 12th in the Big Ten last year at 328.3 yards per game.

Early Look: Penn State’s visitor list for season opener against West Virginia

Indiana also landed running back Christian Turner, formerly of Wake Forest and Michigan. Turner was second on the Demon Deacons in rushing yards (516) and first in rushing touchdowns (7) last season. He’s competing against returnees Josh Henderson and Jaylin Lucas for carries. No one on Indiana’s returning roster surpassed 400 yards rushing last year, so there’s an opportunity to make an immediate impact.

The defense, too, is leaning on transfers. The Hoosiers have welcomed newcomers at all three levels, with Jacob Mangum-Farrar (Stanford) expected to start at middle linebacker, Andre Carter (Western Michigan) looking to intensify a lethargic pass rush from his defensive end spot and Jamier Johnson (Texas) patrolling the secondary as a likely starter at cornerback.

Allen’s background is on the defensive side of the ball, but the Hoosiers have struggled there lately. They were last in the Big Ten and 120th in the FBS against the pass last season, surrendering 274.2 yards per game. Indiana can’t afford for that trend to continue if it’s going to bounce back in 2023.