Breaking Down the 2010 Schedule

The 2010 season will have another easy non-conference schedule. At this point in time we will most likely have to rely on our non-conference schedule to get us 4 victories. To become bowl eligible we will have to pick up 2 more victories against Big Ten opponents. The big ten teams that could provide us with those wins could be the home game against Michigan, the road game at Illinois, the home game against Northwestern, or the road game against Purdue. Obviously a lot of changes will happen from now to the beginning of the season, and by no means do I consider any these big ten games "gimmes", but I think those are the games that we have the best shot against.

It is imperative this year that we get back to playing bowl game caliber football. Coach Lynch and staff have still been able to sell to our 2010 recruiting class that we are a program on the rise and only a few pieces away from competing for Big Ten championships. I still do believe this, however failing to make it to a bowl game next season will make this pitch much more difficult. In future years the schedule will become a bit more difficult as well. There will be less cupcakes on the schedule and opponents such as Virginia, Mizzou, South Florida and Navy will be added eventually. The 2010 schedule is set up nicely for the hoosiers who should be able to handle the 4 non-conference games of Towson, Western Kentucky, Akron, and Arkansas State. If we can take care of business there we will only need to pick up a few big ten victories. Getting to another bowl game could be the recipe the doctor ordered in getting this program back on track and over the recent hump.The only thing that worries me is how much these non-conference games will prepare us for big ten play. Only time will tell.

Here is a look at the 4 non-conference games:

Towson- 2009 record 2-8, there victories came over Coastal Carolina and Rhode Island

Western Kentucky- 2009 record was 0-12.

Akron- 2009 record 3-9, there victories came over Morgan State, Kent State and Eastern Michigan.

Arkansas State- 2009 record 4-8, there victories were over Mississippi Valley State, Florida International, North Texas, and Western Kentucky