Indiana 45, Murray State 3.

I was out of town and haven't even seen highlights of this game yet. Still, here's the box score. Marcus Thigpen gave his critics, including me, something to consider with a 7 carry, 100 yard performance that included touchdown runs of 67 and 31 yards. IU dominated an overmatched opponent. Games like this one say more when the favored team struggles than when the I-AA team is overwhelmed. IU led in first downs (29-10), rushing yards (254-28), passing yards (222-121), and total offense (476-149). IU averaged nearly 6 yards per play and did not commit a penalty. In addition to Thigpen:

• Demetrius McCray ran for 47 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Bryan Payton wasn't great, but did score a touchdown. IU is fortunate to have three legitimate options and running back.
• Kellen Lewis was fine, and Ben Chappell was 6-7 passing.
• Nine different Hoosiers caught passes.
• Chris Hagerup bounced back with a 39 yard average on three punts.
• IU recorded four sacks, including one by Greg Middleton, who played in his first game of the season after missing the first game because of suspension.

Not much else to say, although I may have more after I actually watch the game. Ball State is a formidable opponent, and while I might have preferred to have the bye during the Big Ten season, the Cardinals are no pushover.

A closer look at Murray State.

I didn't give as much time to this game as I wanted to this week, but here are some things to watch in tonight's game:

• Murray won comfortably against Division II Lambuth last week, 41-17. The Racers struggled to run the ball, however, gaining only 3.2 yards per carry against a Division II opponent. This should be a problem for Murray today. The Racers don't appear to be a "tricky" I-AA programs like Nicholls State or Southern Illinois.
• Two quarterbacks split time for Murray: Nico Yantko (10-15, 156) and Jeff Ehrhardt (6-13, 122). Apparently Ehrhardt, who was the OVC freshman of the year last season, will miss today's game because of a shoulder injury, and Yantko had never seen game action until last week.
• Charlie Jordan led the team in rushing last year, but with only 601 yards.

Not much time for more. Hopefully this will be an easy one.

A quick look at Murray State.

Murray State Racers

2008 record: 1-0

2007 record: 2-9

2007 Sagarin: 229

Conference: Ohio Valley

Coach: Matt Griffin (3rd year, 4-19)
Series: First meeting

IU continues its less-than-overwhelming nonconference schedule with the weakest team on the 2008 slate, Murray State. The Racers won the Ohio Valley Conference and qualified for the I-AA playoffs as recently as 2002, but the Racers have gone only 18-40 with one winning season since then.

Although they never have won the I-AA title, the Racers' coaching history is littered with famous names. Former Arkansas/current Mississipi coach Houston Nutt coached the Racers from 1993-1996, improving the Racers from 4-7 his first year to 11-game winners in years three and four. (I find it hilarious that Murray State replaced Houston Nutt with a guy named "Denver Johnson." Stick with what works, I guess). Virginia Tech legend Frank Beamer coached the Racers from 1981-1986 before returning to his alma mater. Mike Gottfried coached Murray State from 1978-1980 before moving on to Cincinnati, Kansas, and Pitt. As the number of coaches who moved up in the world suggests, the poor record of the last 5 years is anomalous for the Racers.

Still, Murray State shapes up much like Indiana State last year as one of the worst teams in I-AA and as a team that IU should thrash. As noted above, Murray ranked #229 in the Sagarin rating last year, ratings that included only 242 schools (the aforementioned Sycamores were one of the unlucky 13 ranked behind Murray State). Coach Matt Griffin coached at Tennessee-Martin from 2003-2005. After going 2-10 and 2-9 in his first two years, he improved to 6-5 in year three before moving on to Murray State. Year three, in my unscientific impression, seems to be when many coaching finally make an impact on a losing program, so it's possible that Murray will be better. The Racers defeated something called "Lambuth" in the opener, 41-17.

More on Murray's numbers and personnel later in the week.