Schedule Breakdown: Indiana Football's 2022 Non-Conference Opponents

Indiana hosts Idaho and Western Kentucky in weeks two and three before completing its home-and-home series at Cincinnati in week four. Here's an early look at each non-conference opponent.

Indiana will play the toughest schedule of any Big Ten team in 2022, according to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI). The Hoosiers' 10th most difficult schedule in the country ranks behind eight SEC teams and Georgia Tech from the ACC.

Part of this is because of a Big Ten schedule that features Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Michigan State, but Indiana will be challenged in the non-conference portion, too. 

Here's a breakdown of Indiana's 2022 non-conference schedule:

Week 2: Idaho

• Last matchup: Indiana defeated Idaho 56-14 on Sept. 11, 2021 for its first win of the season. D.J. Matthews returned a punt for a touchdown, and a blocked punt led to a Javon Swinton scoop-and-score touchdown. 
• 2021 record: 4-7
• When and where: 8 p.m. ET, Sept. 10, 2022, Bloomington, Ind.
• The Scout: Quarterback Mike Beaudry graduated after leading Idaho with 1,299 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions last season. Zach Borisch played both quarterback and running back for Idaho last season, and is listed at the "slash" position on the 2022 roster after leading Idaho with 639 rushing yards on 119 carries last year. Gevani McCoy and CJ Jordan also saw time under center last season and will compete for the starting quarterback job against South Dakota State Transfer J'Bore Gibbs. Elisha Cummings (5.3 ypc), Roshaun Johnson (4.9 ypc) and Aundre Carter (3.9 ypc) complete a deep and experienced Idaho backfield. Leading tackler Tre Walker signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Washington Commanders, and top defensive back Tyrese Dedmon graduated, leaving Fa'Avae Fa'Avae as the leading returning tackler. 

Week 3: Western Kentucky

• Last matchup: Indiana eked out a 33-31 win at Western Kentucky last season behind 118 yards and two touchdowns from Stephen Carr. Michael Penix Jr. and Bailey Zappe aired it out for a combined 66 completions and 738 yards.
  
• 2021 record: 9-5, defeated Appalachian State in Boca Raton Bowl
• When and where: Noon ET, Sept. 17, 2022, Bloomington, Ind.
  
• The Scout: Quarterback Bailey Zappe set the all-time FBS single-season passing yards (5,987) and passing touchdowns (62) records last season, and he was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round. Leading receiver Jerreth Sterns is now on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley transferred to Penn State after a 1,402-yard season. Leading rusher Noah Whittington transferred to Oregon, which means Western Kentucky's offense will look completely different after an electrifying 2021 season. 

Week 4: Cincinnati

• Last matchup: Indiana led Cincinnati by one point entering the fourth quarter, but the Bearcats left Memorial Stadium with a 38-24 win last fall. Indiana's defense fell apart after Micah McFadden's targeting ejection, and Tim Baldwin Jr.'s fourth quarter goal-line fumble was a killer. 
  
• 2021 record: 13-1, lost to Alabama in College Football Playoff Semifinals
• When and where: Time TBA, Sept. 24, 2022, Cincinnati, Ohio
  
• The Scout: Cincinnati also lost a ton of production from 2021. Quarterback Desmond Ridder is now taking snaps for the Atlanta Falcons, leading receiver Alec Pierce was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, leading rusher Jerome Ford is on the Cleveland Browns and lockdown cornerback Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner was the fourth-overall pick in the draft by the New York Jets. First-team All-AAC linebackers and Cincinnati's leading tacklers Joel Dublanko and Darrian Beavers are also off to the NFL, leaving a couple huge holes on defense. Despite all this talent on its way out, Cincinnati still has head coach Luke Fickell, who is 54-22 at Cincinnati since taking over in 2017 and led the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff last season.