Iowa at IU, noon Saturday, ESPN2

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana had an opportunity against Michigan State at home to prove 2018 was different. Ohio State, although ranked higher and a road matchup, was another.

But IU did what IU’s been known to do against the class of the Big Ten in recent years: The Hoosiers lost. And it’s those losses that lend credence to coach Tom Allen’s one word for 2018.

“Finish.”

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Because the Hoosiers didn’t finish against the Spartans (game-clinching fourth-quarter TD off an IU mistakes) or Buckeyes (out-scoring IU by 15 in the second half). Because in 2017, Allen’s first full season as head coach, Wisconsin won the fourth quarter, 21-0, Michigan State won the fourth quarter, 14-3, Michigan won in overtime and Ohio State won the second half, 36-7.

Not only did IU fail to finish last year, it failed to rebound from emotional losses, highlighted by a 42-39 loss to Maryland between the Michigan State and Wisconsin losses. A common refrain, as two years ago, a road loss at Ohio State was followied by close losses to Nebraska and Northwestern.

The Iowa Hawkeyes (4-1, 1-1), not ranked but only barely, visit Memorial Stadium on Saturday as another opportunity for IU (4-2, 1-2) to show 2018 is different. That the Hoosiers won’t let a winnable game slip through their grasp. A loss would set the team up for the possibility of another three-game losing streak with Penn State visiting Oct. 20.

The last season IU hasn’t lost three games in a row was 1993.

“We have a great opportunity to finish the season the right way and hopefully get a chance to maybe go to a bowl game, if we finish,” cornerbacks coach Brandon Shelby said. “If we don’t, then you’ll get the same results as we’ve had in the past. We’re just close. I think that what we’re trying to do is stop being close and then one time we’ve got to finish. The only way you do that is you keep hammering away.”

Senior safety Jonathan Crawford believes this 2018 team is different because of its mix of youth and experience. Senior left guard Wes Martin points to the team’s maturity, ability to block out the noise and focus. Allen cites the depth and what’s physically changed about the bodies of his players, how the Hoosiers train and prepare each week.

“It’s always a great challenge when you go on the road and you play such a high-caliber team like we just did,” Allen said. “You put so much into it and you play well at times and have opportunities and spend so much energy during the game. You have to come back, and that’s hard to do.”

Crawford knows it can be easy, especially for younger players, to drop games like IU has and become discouraged because the hard work didn't pay off in the win column.

“Keep pushing, keep pushing, and things will change,” Crawford said.

That could be as soon as Saturday.

Iowa averages nearly 30 points per game compared to the little more than 16 it is surrendering. The Hawkeyes’ stingy run defense, which allows less than 100 yards per game, could force Ramsey and his receivers to try to replicate their success against the Buckeyes. Iowa’s physical offense will test IU’s rush defense and ability to read play-action passes correctly.

The key is for IU to not get in its own way.

“If a team wants to take the next step they have to correct those changes and be able to do that consistently to be able to win big ballgames,” Martin said.

IU hasn’t won a homecoming game since 2010. As much as is possible, Shelby said, the Hoosiers will treat Saturday as another game. They’ll make sure they’re mentally right not just physically prepared.

Because that’s the difference between average and elite.

“You want to see growth on those teams that have had a long tradition, history of being successful,” Shelby said. “You can see where you are. And over the past we haven’t done very well against Iowa and finished. Been in the whole game and at the end we can’t. So it’s a good test on that to see where we are.”

Follow IndyStar sports reporter Jordan Guskey on Twitter at @JordanGuskey or email him at jguskey@gannett.com.