Indiana will have a plethora of opportunities during the 2020 season. With four opponents ranked in the latest Associated Press poll on the 2020 schedule, the Hoosiers get the chance to prove they’re climbing the B1G ladder.

Starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is pretty confident IU can pull off an upset or two. Or maybe three.

Wednesday, Penix was asked about the opportunity to play teams like Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin this year, all teams ranked in the AP poll. The Hoosiers second-year starter answered with plenty of confidence.

“I feel like we’re going to shock the world,” Penix said, according to Jon Blau of the Bloomington Herald Times. “I know we are.”

Last season, IU had one of its best seasons in program history, finishing with an 8-5 record and earning a bid to the Gator Bowl. The one disappointment from the season was that the Hoosiers failed to beat any of the ranked opponents on the schedule. They fell in close games to Michigan State (40-31) and Penn State (34-27) but were blown out against Ohio State (51-10) and Michigan (39-14).

Losing streaks to Michigan and Ohio State stretch over 30 years, and Indiana is desperately hoping to snap at least one of those this fall. With Penix back under center, Stevie Scott III and Sampson James at running back and Whop Philyor at receiver, they’ll have all the tools to get an upset win or two.

After a strong year in 2019, the next step for the Hoosiers is knocking off one of the big boys.