The expectations were there. The goals were in place. The experienced players were on the field.
None of that helped Indiana on Saturday, however, in a blowout 34-6 loss to No. 18 Iowa on the road.
The Hoosiers came into the 2021 season and their season opening game against Iowa as a team that was ready to arrive on a more national stage but that expectation will have to wait... for now.
"I thought they didn't play as well as I expect them to," IU head coach Tom Allen said. "We got to get that fixed. They're better to me than they showed today. They have to be. I know they are, I've seen it."