My two cents: If Michael Penix Jr. is playing this week, it's OK that we won't know until Saturday

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Tom Allen was very clear and succinct on Monday morning. His talented young quarterback, Michael Penix Jr., is feeling better and he will be a game-time decision on Saturday at Michigan State.

He will say the same thing again Wednesday night on his weekly radio show, and then repeat it again Thursday in his final media availability of the week. "Game-time decision'' will be repeated over and over.

And I'm fine with that.

Might as well keep the Spartans guessing, too.

My guess is that Penix is feeling better and will be good to go at 3:30 p.m. ET when the Hoosiers take on Michigan State in East Lansing. That's the wish, too, because Indiana's best chance to beat the Spartans is to have Penix at full strength.

But we don't know what we don't know, and that means there won't be any hints on Penix's health between now and Saturday afternoon.

The good news, though, is that Allen does expect to see his quarterback participating in practice this week.

"Yes, I do expect that. So we'll see how that goes,'' Allen said. "That's the expectation, that he'll be practicing this week and getting himself ready and we'll see how his body responds to that.

"That will be the case (Tuesday) and on Wednesday, and then Thursday we should have a pretty good idea where we're at and then announce it at kickoff.''

Allen has avoided all specifics about Penix's injury and his rehab. The guess, based on some video from the Week 2 game against Eastern Illinois when he last saw action, is that it's a shoulder injury, but no one will confirm that.

"All I know is he's getting better. So I can say that with confidence that he is progressing and I'm trusting in our medical staff for their analysis and evaluation,'' Allen said. "They do a tremendous job, so I believe in them and trust them. We're making progress, so we just got to keep doing what we're doing and we'll see when he'll be ready to come back. But he's definitely making progress.''

The company line, of course, is that Indiana has two capable quarterbacks in Penix and junior Peyton Ramsey, the 2018 starter who's answered the bell the past two weeks, struggling badly in the 51-10 loss to Ohio State but playing well last week in the 38-3 rout of Connecticut.

The massive talent discrepancy aside of the two opponents, there was noticeable improvement in Ramsey's game week over week. Even the game plan was tailored more for his strengths, and that made a difference in him completing 85 percent of his passes, going 23 for 27 for 247 yards.

It does help, I suppose, that not saying anything also forces Michigan State to prepare for both quarterbacks.

"Yeah, I guess in some ways that would be (a bonus) because I've been on that side of it as well when you're not sure who it's going to be,'' Allen said. "I truly stand right here in front of you and tell you I don't know who it's going to be.

"They don't either, so I guess that may give us a little bit of an advantage. They will have to prepare for both, and yeah, I think you just have to schematically be able to cover your bases and be prepared for whatever options may occur. That's one way it look at it for sure.''

The battle for the starting quarterback spot was the main storyline throughout fall camp, and Penix won because he's better suited for big-strike plays downfield. He's got a huge arm and can run when needed, something he does better than Ramsey.

But Ramsey was really good on Saturday, and he's certainly got the trust of his teammates.

Coaches, too.

"I thought that Peyton was extremely accurate, which is one of his traits, and just did a great job commanding the offense,'' Allen said. "I've been really pleased with Peyton's play and the way he's led, and he continues to do great job.

"Michael's been rehabbing and that's continued to go well and we'll find out more here throughout the week, and then make a decision for that position on game day.''

Yep, gameday. That's decision day.

Works for me.

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