With six coaches in the past 20 years and lots of instability, the Indiana Hoosiers might have to worry about more of that if Head Coach Kevin Wilson take the next step this year and get his team to a bowl game.

The Hoosiers have shown improvement each year under Wilson, now entering his fourth year. They were able to close the deal on some close games last year, something that haunted them in 2012, and the average point differential in games was less than a point,

Oct 12, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Indiana Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson on the sidelines during a game against the Michigan State Spartans during the first half at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

compared to 5 points in 2012 and 16 points in 2011.

However, while the Hoosiers’ offense has gotten significantly better each year, the defense last year, by a small margin, was the worst since Wilson arrived in Bloomington. That’s going to have to change. Otherwise, the offense will need to put up 40 points a game if Wilson is to keep his jobs.

The good news is that’s possible for the offense with all of the returning talent to a unit that averaged 38 points and 508 yards a game. The bad news is that Indiana’s defense, after giving up about 525 yards a game last year, could struggle even more despite the number of returning starters because they are transitioning to a 3-4 defense.

The transition alone is the lingering question on whether or not the Hoosiers are bowl-bound this year. But if they aren’t Wilson will probably be gone.