Zach Osterman

zach.osterman@indystar.com

Nebraska defensive coordinator Mark Banker made waves earlier this week, when he accused Indiana of stealing defensive signals.

Banker was speaking to local media on the challenges associated with playing the Hoosiers, consistently among the Big Ten's best offensively since coach Kevin Wilson's arrival. He added this, as reported by the Lincoln Journal Star:

"What I know about them personally is the fact they do whatever they can to steal defensive signals. So they work at it real hard. So they're going to get your signals and if they don't get them before the game, they get them during the snap, and they actually call the play at the line of scrimmage."

The suggestion is a new one for Wilson's offenses, although Banker went on to characterize signal stealing as rather common in college football. When asked how he knew IU – which has yet to face Nebraska in Big Ten play – tried to steal signals, Banker said. "Coaching is a tight fraternity ... word gets around."

Again, stealing (or, depending upon your point of view, decoding) an opposing team's defensive signals is hardly new. Nor is suggesting your opponent is trying to do it.

But, as the Hoosiers and Cornhuskers meet this weekend for a game billed as important to the course of both programs' seasons, consider this an extra layer of intrigue added on.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.