The struggles Moore has endured were thrown into sharp relief again as he failed to outwit the 63-year-old Curt Cignetti, a seasoned coach who, in his first year in Bloomington, has led the Hoosiers’ remarkable transformation from perennial Big Ten also-ran to College Football Playoff contender.

The group up front has taken a major step back this year under new offensive line coach Grant Newsome, a surprise given the continuity on staff and Moore’s history with the line. Injuries have played a part continuity-wise, a departure from recent years when the group seemed to work well together no matter who was in there.