Here are some facts and figures about games involving Indiana college football teams. Times are eastern and records indicated are from 2016 unless indicated.
AUGUST 31
Eastern Illinois (6-5) at Indiana State (4-7) (7 p.m.): The Panthers blanked Indiana State, 31-0, during the 2009 season. Eastern Illinois was outscored 310-294 last season. The Sycamores threw for an average of 245.3 yards per game.
Grand Valley State (12-1) at Indianapolis (6-5) (7 p.m.): The Greyhounds escaped with a 34-33 win over Grand Valley in 2011. The Lakers were 5-0 on the road a year ago. Indianapolis ran for an average of 137.1 yards per game.
Marian (11-1) at Saint Xavier (5-6) (7 p.m.): The No. 5 Knights earned a 56-10 victory over Saint Xavier in 2016. A 17-0 loss to Eastern Oregon in last season NAIA playoffs snapped Marian’s 20-game winning streak. The No. 24 Cougars recorded 243 first downs, compared to 208 for their opponents.
Manchester (2-8) at Trine (6-4) (7:30 p.m.): The Thunder posted a 23-9 win at Manchester a season ago. The Spartans averaged 331.6 yards per game last year and allowed 414.9 yards a game. Trine allowed an average of 25.4 points per game, while scoring 34.6 points a contest.
Ohio State (11-2) at Indiana (6-7) (8 p.m.): The Hoosiers dropped a 38-17 decision at Ohio State last season. The Buckeyes are 61-6 under the leadership of Urban Meyer. Indiana averaged 152.2 yards rushing per contest last year. This is the first regular season contest for Hoosiers’ coach Tom Allen.
SEPTEMBER 2
Ball State (4-8) at Illinois (3-9) (Noon): The Fighting Illini claimed a 28-17 victory over Ball State in 2007. The Cardinals surrendered 470.2 points per game, while averaging 449.2 yards. Illinois has captured 11 straight home openers at Memorial Stadium.
Albion (1-9) at Wabash (8-2) (1 p.m.): The Little Giants marched past Albion, 41-31, in their last matchup. The Britons’ lone triumph a season ago was a 53-20 decision over Rockford. Wabash tallied 402.7 yards per game, compared to 287.6 yards for its opponents.
Franklin (8-2) at Thomas More (9-2 (1 p.m.): The Grizzlies clawed their way to a 43-39 win over Thomas More a season ago. Franklin ran for just an average of 85.3 yards a game, compared to 134.6 yards for the opposition. The Kentucky-based Saints scored an average 41.6 points a game, while giving up 19.7 points per contest.
Saint Francis (13-1) at Jamestown (0-1) (1 p.m.): This marks the first meeting on the gridiron between the top-ranked and defending NAIA national champion Cougars and the Jimmies from North Dakota. Saint Francis averaged 466.6 yards per contest, while the opposition tallied 341.1 yards a game. Jamestown, which finished 4-7 a year ago, dropped a 31-3 contest to Hastings (Nebraska) on August 25.
Centre (8-2) at Hanover (4-6) (1:30 p.m.): The Colonels from Kentucky rolled to a 35-13 win over Hanover a year ago. Centre passed for 332.4 yards a game, while its opponents averaged 210.2 yards per game. The Panthers averaged 35.5 yards a punt, while the opposition averaged 36.8 yards per kick.
Earlham (0-10) at Wilmington (0-10) (1:30 p.m.): The Quakers from Ohio cruised to a 43-7 win over Earlham in 1997. The Quakers have dropped 33 straight games dating back to the 2013 campaign. Wilmington is looking to halt a 19-game losing skid.
Valparaiso (4-7) at Montana (6-5) (3 p.m.); The Crusaders are taking on Montana for the first time on the gridiron. Valparaiso was outscored 366-253 last season. The Grizzlies welcome back 995 of the 1,112 yards they rushed for in 2016.
Temple (10-4) at Notre Dame (4-8) (3:30 p.m.): The Fighting Irish escaped with a 24-20 win over Temple in 2015. The Owls ran for 2,873 yards, while their opponents compiled 2,303 yards on the ground. Notre Dame converted 40 percent of its third-down conversions, compared to 39 percent for their opponents. This is the first game for new Temple boss Geoff Collins.
Malone (1-8) at Taylor (4-7) (6 p.m.): The Pioneers from Ohio needed overtime to come away with a 39-33 win over Taylor a season ago. Malone has dropped its last five road openers and had lost five games in a row in Indiana. The Trojans converted 62 percent of their fourth-down chances, while the opposition connected 45 percent of the time.
North Park (1-9) at Anderson (1-9) (6 p.m.): The Vikings from Illinois were a 41-13 winner over Anderson last season. North Park is looking to halt a nine-game losing streak. The Ravens scored an average of 18.3 points per contest, while allowing an average of 42.5 points.
Rose-Hulman (8-3) at Illinois College (6-4) (7 p.m.): The Blueboys slipped past Rose-Hulman, 14-13, last year. The Fighting Engineers were guilty of 13 fumbles in 2016, compared to 11 for the opposition. Illinois College scored 68 points off turnovers, while its opponents tallied 52 points.
Butler (4-7) at Illinois State (6-6) (7:30 p.m.): These clubs are meeting for the first time since 1949 when the Redbirds blanked Butler, 14-0. Butler averaged 30:33 per game in 2016, compared to 29:27 for the opposition. Illinois State passed for 2,743 yards, compared to 2,586 yards for its opponents.
Louisville (9-4) vs. Purdue (3-9) (7:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium): The Cardinals and Boilermakers played to a 22-22 deadlock in the 1987 season. Louisville is led by Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Lamar Jackson. This is the first contest for Purdue coach Geoff Brohm. The Boilermakers threw for 25 touchdowns and 25 interceptions last season.
