South Carolina State @ Indiana preview

THE STORY: Indiana hopes to bounce back after a pair of tough losses when it hosts South Carolina State on Saturday. The Hoosiers scored 28 straight points in the second half last week against Virginia, but it went for naught as IU turned the ball over inside its own 20 in the final minute and lost 34-31 on a field goal with no time remaining. South Carolina State is coming off a big MEAC win over Bethune-Cookman last weekend.

TV: Big Ten Network. LINE: Indiana -14.5

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (1-1, 1-0 MEAC): The Bulldogs, selected as pre-season favorites in the MEAC, have won three straight league championships and appeared in three consecutive FCS playoffs. In last week's win at Bethune-Cookman, Dominique Ellis led the defense with eight tackes and two interceptions, and returned one of those for a game-clinching fourth quarter TD. The offense is averaging just 174 yards per game, but the defense has recorded six interceptions

ABOUT INDIANA (0-2, 0-0 Big Ten): The Hoosiers had their nine-game win streak in home openers snapped last week. Edward Wright-Baker, the first-year starting quarterback, has accounted for 503 yards in two games, passing for 443 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 60. Matt Perez, who rushed for two touchdowns in the loss to Virginia, leads the Hoosiers has three TDs for the season. Defensively, Indiana forced four turnovers last week, the first time that has happened since IU forced four against Penn State in 2009. Greg Heban had two interceptions last week, while Lawrence Barnett returned a fumble 52 yards for a TD.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Indiana wide receiver Demarlo Belcher is the active Big Ten leader in career receptions (172) and receiving yards (2,093).

2. The Hoosiers have played 13 true freshmen in the first two games, second most among FBS schools. Only Texas (18) has played more first-year frosh. Indiana played only nine true freshmen from 2007-10.

3. Indiana coach Kevin Wilson has ties to the MEAC, serving as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at North Carolina A&T in 1988 before he moved on to Miami (Ohio).

PREDICTION: Indiana 34, South Carolina State 17 -- The Hoosiers get their first win of the year, but South Carolina State puts up a tough fight.