INDIANAPOLIS — As much time as Antwaan Randle El spends dancing outside the pocket and scrambling, one might think he'd get tired every now and then.

He doesn't, at least that's what he says. In fact, he knows that every minute he isn't out there is a detriment to his team.

Winning the time of possession battle is important to most teams, but in Indiana's case, it's vital.

When Randle El returns to the bench, he knows the group that will replace him — Indiana's defense — is weak, vulnerable to both the run and the pass.

And lately, the defense has been working too much for the team. And as a result, the Hoosiers are staring at a 3-5 record, dependent on victories in their last three games to become bowl eligible.

"I think it's important for us to keep our defense off the field," Randle El said. "I think it's the most important part. I mean, offensively, we can go forever, but just to keep our defense off the field is most important. If we keep them off the field for a long time, they can get some rest, and it helps us out in the long run."

Indiana actually won the time of possession battle against Penn State by nearly three minutes.

But it needed a much larger leeway, anywhere from five to 10.

It's a sentiment that Indiana coach Cam Cameron echoed.

"It's the same with anything, whether it's an Antwaan Randle El or a Michael Vick," Cameron said. "I mean, any kind of player like that. You don't get him for 10 years. You get him for a short period of time. You need him out there as much as you can."

To see Indiana's one-way effectiveness, just examine when the Hoosiers scored, how the Hoosiers scored and what happened immediately after the Hoosiers scored.

To boot: Drive No. 3, Indiana's first scoring effort — a 25-yard option to tailback Levron Williams. Indiana 7, Penn State 0.

As soon as the Nittany Lions took the field, quarterback Rashard Casey marched them 76 yards downfield in 12 plays. Another touchdown, score tied. The big issue here, however, was the fact that the Lions ate up more than six minutes of clock time on their drive. The Hoosiers? Barely a minute and a half.

In the second quarter, Indiana scored on its first drive, a 5-yard handoff to De'Wayne Hogan. The Hoosiers then actually forced a three-and-out by the Lions, but Penn State did the same to the Hoosiers.

And on the Lions' next drive, Casey took his troops 71 yards in 10 plays for another touchdown. Score tied again. On those two drives, Indiana actually kept the ball for seven minutes, but still gave Penn State an eternity with which to work. The Lions took all the time they needed — Four and a half minutes in this case.

Indiana finally scored again late in the third quarter, but once again, Penn State answered on the ensuing drive.

In fact, Penn State didn't even get its first lead until Ryan Primanti booted a 39-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter. Indiana tried to turn the tables, keeping the ball for more than six minutes once again, and kicked one of its own. But with little time remaining, the field goal was ill advised, especially with the Hoosiers threatening in the red zone.

And from there, it was catch-up the entire way.

"We just have a mentality, we kind of like it out there ... if we get put in situations, if there's a sudden change, we're kind of excited about it now," Hoosiers defensive tackle Paul Mandina said. "Before, I don't know. I think the guys might have been a little scared, or, I really don't think it was being scared, but I know it's a different mentality about it now, because it's a challenge. So far, the odds are in our favor when we're put in our situation, when we're coming out and making things happen. It's really good for the confidence of the defense and the confidence of the players."

But toward the end of the game, when Indiana tied it up, it apparently forgot to realize that smart clock management — or in Indiana's case, keeping the offense on the field — is often the best weapon the Hoosiers overlook.

It gave nearly two minutes for Penn State to find its way into field-goal range, an eternity by any standard.

"It was just one of those games where the team that got the ball last won the football game," Cameron said.

Indiana actually got it last. There just wasn't enough time.