[ColoradoTree]

I watched that Iowa-Indiana game, and it was very much a back and forth affair, at least until the 4th quarter when Iowa pulled ahead by two scores.  (I watched a lot of Iowa games this year, but that was my Dubuque native of a wife's choice, not mine.)  So, while the whole game wasn't obvious passing situations, Sudfeld was much worse in the second half than in the first.  For example, he was 10/18 for 102 yards (no scores or turnovers) in the first half, including an unsuccessful hail mary to end the half.  Not great, but not terrible either.  It was in the second half that Indiana went to the pass more, and Sudfeld was ineffective (6/19 for 78 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).  Looking back at the play-by-play, Indiana also went in a different direction in playcalling, throwing more on first down and then running on second and 10, generally resulting in another 3rd and long.  For example, here are Indiana's drives in the second half:

Down 21-17: Incomplete; short run; 11-yard pass for first down; run for loss; incomplete; run for no gain; punt
Down 21-17: Incomplete; 5-yard run; incomplete; punt
Down 21-17: 4-yard run; 6-yard pass for first down; 5-yard run; 4-yard run; 3-yard run; incomplete (on first down); 3-yard run; 9-yard run; 4-yard run; 16-yard run; 2-yard run; 7-yard run; 15-yard run; incomplete (on first down); 2-yard run; incomplete; field goal.
Down 28-20: Incomplete; incomplete; sack; punt
Down 35-20: 3-yard run; 12-yard pass; interception

Then, down two scores, Sudfeld had a great last drive, leading a 76-yard drive for a TD in just 2:04, but Iowa recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. 

Odd, given that I remember Indiana's run game being pretty effective, and the stats bear that out, as the team ran for 227 yards on 39 carries (5.8 yards per carry) and the lead back, Jordan Howard, got 174 on 22 carries (7.9 ypc), with a couple of long TD runs of 37 and 29.  In retrospect, you'd think Indiana would have been far better-served by continuing to pound the ball on first and 10, opening up the playbook on 2nd and short and 3rd and short.  The third drive of the second half was incredibly successful doing just that, and it stalled when they went back to throwing on first down. 

So, I'm not sure we can conclude that Sudfeld struggled in obvious passing situations because of a tough Iowa secondary.  He had a terrible second half, period.  And only on the last drive (in which he was great) would you say it was an obvious passing situation where circumstances required a lot of passing.  IIRC, he was just largely off for most of the game, there were a few bad drops to aid the cause, Iowa was pretty sound in pass coverage, and Indiana's coaching staff didn't help things by continuing to call for passes on first and 10 despite the effectiveness of the running game and a close score. 

Thus concludes the most in-depth analysis of Indiana football that has ever occurred outside the State of Indiana. 

[ColoradoTree]

I watched that Iowa-Indiana game, and it was very much a back and forth affair, at least until the 4th quarter when Iowa pulled ahead by two scores.  (I watched a lot of Iowa games this year, but that was my Dubuque native of a wife's choice, not mine.)  So, while the whole game wasn't obvious passing situations, Sudfeld was much worse in the second half than in the first.  For example, he was 10/18 for 102 yards (no scores or turnovers) in the first half, including an unsuccessful hail mary to end the half.  Not great, but not terrible either.  It was in the second half that Indiana went to the pass more, and Sudfeld was ineffective (6/19 for 78 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).  Looking back at the play-by-play, Indiana also went in a different direction in playcalling, throwing more on first down and then running on second and 10, generally resulting in another 3rd and long.  For example, here are Indiana's drives in the second half:

Down 21-17: Incomplete; short run; 11-yard pass for first down; run for loss; incomplete; run for no gain; punt
Down 21-17: Incomplete; 5-yard run; incomplete; punt
Down 21-17: 4-yard run; 6-yard pass for first down; 5-yard run; 4-yard run; 3-yard run; incomplete (on first down); 3-yard run; 9-yard run; 4-yard run; 16-yard run; 2-yard run; 7-yard run; 15-yard run; incomplete (on first down); 2-yard run; incomplete; field goal.
Down 28-20: Incomplete; incomplete; sack; punt
Down 35-20: 3-yard run; 12-yard pass; interception

Then, down two scores, Sudfeld had a great last drive, leading a 76-yard drive for a TD in just 2:04, but Iowa recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. 

Odd, given that I remember Indiana's run game being pretty effective, and the stats bear that out, as the team ran for 227 yards on 39 carries (5.8 yards per carry) and the lead back, Jordan Howard, got 174 on 22 carries (7.9 ypc), with a couple of long TD runs of 37 and 29.  In retrospect, you'd think Indiana would have been far better-served by continuing to pound the ball on first and 10, opening up the playbook on 2nd and short and 3rd and short.  The third drive of the second half was incredibly successful doing just that, and it stalled when they went back to throwing on first down. 

So, I'm not sure we can conclude that Sudfeld struggled in obvious passing situations because of a tough Iowa secondary.  He had a terrible second half, period.  And only on the last drive (in which he was great) would you say it was an obvious passing situation where circumstances required a lot of passing.  IIRC, he was just largely off for most of the game, there were a few bad drops to aid the cause, Iowa was pretty sound in pass coverage, and Indiana's coaching staff didn't help things by continuing to call for passes on first and 10 despite the effectiveness of the running game and a close score. 

Thus concludes the most in-depth analysis of Indiana football that has ever occurred outside the State of Indiana.