The Indiana Hoosiers and Miami Hurricanes will cap the college football season Monday night. Even though it's not the college football blue blood matchup of the past (Alabama vs. Georgia), the Hoosiers and the Hurricanes arguably represent a new era of college football and ESPN's Louis Riddick fully recognizes it.
“They can explode on the perimeter, they can bully you in the run game, and they’re strong up front with great secondary play,” Riddick said of Indiana on "Get Up." “They take the ball away, play sound special teams, don’t commit penalties, and don’t hurt themselves.”
Riddick said the game is going to be won in the trenches, making the game must-see TV.
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“This is a dream matchup for me,” Riddick said. "You’ve got two programs with totally different histories. Indiana is writing theirs right now. Miami’s is already decorated. … This is great theater. And Indiana is on the cusp of making history.”
Riddick said what's great about this matchup is the underdog story of both programs. Just two years ago, the Hoosiers were irrelevant before coach Curt Cignetti took over, while the Hurricanes haven't been back at this stage of college football in over two decades.
Riddick said if the Hurricanes can get after Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the game becomes really interesting.
“This is a football team that has backs who can run and pound you, a huge offensive line, and, in my opinion, the best assistant coach in all of college football,” Riddick said. "The most important factor in this game is his ability to match up with Fernando Mendoza, keep him off track, keep him off balance, and not allow him to get comfortable."
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The Hoosiers, though, are all but perfect in every phase of the sport.
"Subjectively, when you watch them play, you see a well-coached football team that’s very balanced on offense,” Riddick said.
While not going deeper into a prediction, Riddick said he is excited to see how the game plays out.
In a few hours, we'll find out if the game lives up to the hype.
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