The Hoosiers have not beaten a ranked opponent since defeating the then number 24 ranked Northwestern Wildcats way back in October of 2008. The staff needs a marquee win, the players need a win, the program could definitely use the victory, and god knows the fan base needs a Hoosier triumph. The loss to Bowling Green was just another in a long line of heart breakers that have haunted the IU fan base for the last two decades. Now, a win Saturday will not erase every one of those losses, but it will show what kind of heart this year’s edition of the Hoosiers has.

What a Win Would Mean to IU

A win at Missouri would easily be the biggest achievement in the Kevin Wilson era. Not only would this be a feather in Wilson’s cap, it would help with recruiting, attendance, and the overall perception of Indiana University football. The most important impact however may be on Indiana’s bottom line. A loss this week can all but guarantee another half full Memorial Stadium. A win on the other hand should breathe some life into the alumni and the student body. Indiana needs the cash too; they were paid $200,000 to play at Bowling Green. I bet that the alumni would rather have the win than the extra green. Money rules college athletics and it sure would help IU if they could get a little extra to impress recruits and keep upgrading their facilities.

The Hoosiers Can Pull it Off