X-Factor: Josh Hoover Must Deliver Against Minnesota's Solid Pass Defense

Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover has been one of the most productive and efficient passers in the Big Ten this season, but his most recent performance against Michigan left plenty to be desired. Fortunately, the Hoosiers escaped Ann Arbor with a 13-6 overtime victory, but they'll need more from their veteran quarterback moving forward.

And that makes Hoover the biggest X-Factor for Indiana's upcoming matchup against Minnesota.

Through eight games, Hoover has completed 116 of his 187 passing attempts (62.0 percent) for 1,741 yards, 18 touchdowns and just one interception. He's also averaging an impressive 9.3 yards per attempt.

Those are excellent numbers, particularly considering how well Hoover has protected the football throughout the season.

However, Minnesota presents a particularly difficult challenge.

The Golden Gophers rank No. 11 nationally in passing defense, making them one of the toughest teams in the country to consistently move the football against through the air. They're also No. 44 against the run, meaning Indiana can't necessarily expect to establish its ground game without resistance.

That puts considerable pressure on Hoover to make the right decisions, deliver accurate throws and avoid the mistakes that can derail an offense.

Fortunately, he has two of the most dangerous receiving weapons in the conference at his disposal.

Junior wide receiver Charlie Becker leads Indiana with 42 receptions for 726 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging an outstanding 17.29 yards per catch. Nick Marsh has been equally explosive, hauling in 34 passes for 610 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 17.94 yards per reception.

Combined, Becker and Marsh have produced 1,336 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, giving Hoover a pair of legitimate game-changing options whenever he drops back to pass.

But against a defense as stingy as Minnesota's, simply having talented receivers won't be enough.

Hoover must be patient when necessary, take advantage of favorable matchups and avoid forcing the football into tight coverage. He's done a phenomenal job of taking care of the football this season throwing his first interception just last week in Ann Arbor. Minnesota's defensive success suggests that explosive passing plays could be difficult to generate, making efficiency and sustained drives especially important.

Indiana also needs Hoover to rediscover the rhythm and confidence that made him so effective throughout the first seven games.

The Hoosiers have already demonstrated that they can win ugly, as evidenced by their overtime victory against Michigan. However, relying on the defense to repeatedly bail out an inconsistent offense isn't necessarily a sustainable formula.

If Hoover can return to form against the nation's No. 11 passing defense, Indiana should have an excellent opportunity to keep its momentum rolling.

If he struggles again, the Hoosiers could find themselves in another uncomfortable, low-scoring battle.

Either way, Indiana's offensive success against Minnesota will largely depend on the arm and decision-making of Josh Hoover.