![\"NCAA](\"https:\/\/images.deadspin.com\/tr:w-900\/24832991.jpg\")
Indiana Hoosiers running back Ty Son Lawton (17) reacts after a touchdown run during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\nIn the final analysis, last week’s 38-15 loss at No. 2 Ohio State was no death knell at all for Indiana. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n The chaos that enveloped last week’s top 12 in the College Football Playoff enabled the Hoosiers to stay inside the playoff field. They dropped from No. 5 to 10th. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n That means a win Saturday night at home in their regular-season finale with in-state rival Purdue would bring another layer to Indiana’s historic season — a spot in the 12-team playoff.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n And should the Buckeyes stumble at home in their rivalry game against 6-5 Michigan, Indiana could also earn a spot in the Big Ten Conference championship game Dec. 7 against top-ranked Oregon.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We’re sitting in a good spot but we’ve got to take care of business,” said first-year Hoosiers coach Curt Cignetti.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n While the overdogs from Ohio State poked fun at Cignetti’s brashness after Saturday’s game, there’s no question he’s the odds-on favorite for national Coach of the Year. A program that’s run pretty brutal for generations, aside from a scattered good season or two along the way, has risen from 17th place in preseason Big Ten predictions to controlling its destiny to get into the playoff.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The two things Indiana (10-1, 7-1) wants to do in the season finale are fix concerns that ropped up last week and not take the Boilermakers (1-10, 0-8) for granted. Indiana was installed as a four-touchdown favorite to pound Purdue.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n They’d like to get their offense going again after a couple of weeks where they’ve struggled. Ohio State’s physical defense limited them to 151 total yards, most of those coming on two touchdown drives. In a 20-15 win over Michigan Nov. 9, Indiana managed just 246 yards of offense.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n “We’ve got to get back in sync offensively and get our rhythm back where we’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Cignetti said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n While the Hoosiers aim to return to form, the Boilermakers embrace the role of spoiler to end a forgettable season with a memorable upset. One way or the other, changes are coming to a program that’s gone backwards in coach Ryan Walters’ second year.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Walters is reportedly safe win or lose to return for a third season. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n “I’m looking forward to Saturday. That is what I am focused on right now,” he said. “Those are the things that are right in front of us right now. After Saturday, I’ll look forward to the next wave of things.”<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Since opening the year with a 49-0 blanking of FCS opponent Indiana State, the Boilermakers have been mostly pummeled. There have been close games, like last week’s 24-17 setback at Michigan State, but they have been outscored 411-130 since the opener.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n If Purdue is to give itself a chance at the upset, it will probably need a big game from quarterback Hudson Card (1,606 yards, 9 touchdowns). It will also need some big plays from defenders like linebacker Kydran Jenkins, who has 6.5 sacks this season and 23 in his career.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The Boilermakers own a 77-42-6 lead in the all-time series, which awards the winner the Old Oaken Bucket. Purdue has won the last three matchups, including a 35-31 victory last year on Card’s 10-yard touchdown run with 2:39 left. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n