TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State hits the road for the first time in the 2023 season as the Sycamores make the trip to Bloomington, Ind. on Friday night for a nonconference FBS matchup against Indiana University. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Hoosiers inside Memorial Stadium is set for 7 p.m. and will be carried live on the Big Ten Network and 105.5 The Legend.
Quick Notes
Scouting Indiana
Indiana is home for the second consecutive week to open the 2023 season after hosting Ohio State this past Saturday on September 2. The Hoosiers have won all six matchups against Indiana State dating back to the 1925 season. IU and ISU last faced off in the 2014 season, a 28-10 Hoosier win at Memorial Stadium. Indiana was selected seventh overall in the Big Ten East Division preseason standings as voted on by the conference media members. IU had multiple players named to the FBS preseason postseason award watch lists. Andre Carter (Bednarik), Jaylin Lucas (Walter Camp & Doak Walker), Aaron Casey (Butkus), and James Evans (Ray Guy) all earned the recognition. Indiana posted a 4-8 overall record in the 2022 season with a 2-7 mark in Big Ten play. The Hoosiers won their lone FCS competition topping Idaho (35-22) last season in Bloomington. Head Coach Tom Allen enters his eighth season on the sidelines with the Hoosiers this year. He's posted a 30-41 career record at IU.
Blackwell Shines
The Indiana State secondary has another star in the making as redshirt sophomore
Maddix Blackwell was the brightest star for the Sycamores this past weekend in the season opener against Eastern Illinois. The Bloomington, Ind. native posted his first collegiate double-digit tackling game (11) and added his second collegiate interception in the fourth quarter to pace an ISU defense that limited the Eastern Illinois offense throughout the contest. With All-American
Rylan Cole on the injured list, Blackwell has taken leadership of the group and looks to build off a strong freshman campaign that saw him finish fourth on the team in tackles (51), while adding 4.0 tackles-for-loss, a sack, and six pass breakups. His 11-tackle performance on Thursday night surpassed his previous career-high of seven set at Purdue last season as the safety continues to perform in big games.
IU-Mallory Connection
Sycamore head coach
Curt Mallory has a special tie-in to Indiana University courtesy of his father Bill Mallory – the long-time Hoosier head coach from 1984-96. The elder Mallory piled up 69 career wins and coached Indiana to six of the program's 13 bowl appearances over his time at IU. Friday night's game marks the first time the Sycamore head coach will take the sidelines against IU at Memorial Stadium. He previously served as the secondary coach for the Hoosiers back from 2002-04. The Mallory coaching tree is extensive with both of Curt's brothers currently in the coaching profession as well. Both Doug and Mike are members of the University of Michigan coaching staff in the 2023 season.
Mallory against the FBS
The Sycamores have lined up against six FBS opponents in the
Curt Mallory coaching era dating to their first matchup in the 2017 season against Tennessee. The Sycamores fell to the Volunteers, 42-7, and enter the Friday night contest with an 0-5 mark against the FBS overall since the 2017 season. Among the defeats have been at Louisville (31-7, 2018), at Kansas (24-17, 2019), at Northwestern (24-6, 2021), and last season's 52-0 loss at Purdue. The Sycamores are set to face two FBS opponents this season in both Indiana (Sept. 8) and Ball State (Sept. 16) on back-to-back weeks.
Same Season, Same FBS Opponents
Indiana State has two games against FBS opponents for the first time since the 2014 season. Their opponents that year, Indiana and Ball State. The Sycamores will reprise the schedule this season as the Sycamores take on the Hoosiers on Friday night, while traveling to Muncie and Ball State next weekend. In the 2014 season, the Sycamores fell to ISU, 28-10, on August 30 that season, while rebounding for a 27-20 win at Ball State two weeks later. The 2014 season marked the second consecutive year Indiana State faced back-to-back FBS programs within the state as the Sycamores fell to both IU (73-35) and Purdue (20-14) to start the 2013 season. The 2023 season also marks the fifth time ISU has played two FBS opponents in the same season since the 2006 season.
Sycamores starting first of three contests inside the Hoosier State
Indiana State has the rare distinction of playing just one home game in the opening month of the season and not leaving their home state. The Sycamores opened the year on August 31 with a Thursday night contest at home against Eastern Illinois. From there, Indiana State will travel to Bloomington for a September 8 contest at Indiana. ISU will remain within the state the following week on September 16 with a Saturday afternoon game in Muncie against Ball State. The Sycamores will finally leave the state on September 30 to open Missouri Valley Football play at MVFC newcomer Murray State in Murray, Ky.
Career Game for Hauser
Micah Hauser had a game to remember in the Sycamore Blue & White as the redshirt freshman earned his first collegiate start this past Thursday against Eastern Illinois. Drawing the start at safety alongside
Maddix Blackwell, Hauser finished with a team-high six solo tackles on his way to finishing behind Blackwell for the team lead in stops in the contest. The sophomore has showcased a nose for the football throughout fall camp and rose quickly through the ranks of the two-deep on his way to paying off with the start. The Westfield, Ind. native surpassed his previous career-high of five tackles set last season against Montana after spending most of the year on the ISU special teams unit in 2022.
Wabash Valley Natives
Head Coach
Curt Mallory prides himself on recruiting local talent and the Indiana State roster features that commitment in 2023 as the Sycamores have 18 players from the Wabash Valley on the roster. Among the key players already listed on the two-deep or seeing key playing time from the Valley on the team include
Dakota Caton (Sullivan),
Korbin Allen (Brazil),
Joey Shew (Clinton),
Carter Herrin (Terre Haute),
Lance Rees (Marshall), and
Jack Sherman (Terre Haute). Overall, the Sycamores have 12 athletes from Terre Haute on the team and 58 from the state of Indiana on the team.
Follow the Sycamores
For the latest information on Sycamore Football, visit
GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including
Twitter,
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Instagram and
YouTube. Fans can also receive updates on Sycamore Athletics by downloading the March On App from both the
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Google Play Store.
