2026 B1G Previews: Indiana Hoosiers

 

Indiana Hoosiers

Location: Bloomington, IN

Stadium: Memorial Stadium (52,626)

Coach: Curt Cignetti (3rd year): 27-2 at Indiana, 146-37 overall, 18-1 v B1G

2025 Indiana Hoosiers (16-0)(10-0)                                     2026 Indiana Hoosiers

27           Old Dominion                  14                                           S5          North Texas

56           Kennesaw State               9                                           S12        Howard

73           Indiana State                      0                                           S19        Western Kentucky

63           Illinois                                  10                                           S25        Northwestern (Friday)

20           at Iowa                                15                                           O3          at Rutgers

30           at Oregon                           20                                           O10       at Nebraska

38           Michigan State                13                                           O17       Ohio State

56           UCLA                                      6                                           O24       at Michigan

55           at Maryland                       10                                           O31       Minnesota

27           at Penn State                   24                                           N7

31           Wisconsin                            7                                           N14       USC

56           at Purdue                             3                                           N21       at Washington

13           Ohio State                         10                                           N28       Purdue

                (B1G Championship)

38           Alabama                               3

                (Rose Bowl: CFP Quarterfinal)

56           Oregon                                22

                (Peach Bowl: CFP Semifinal)

27           Miami                                  21

                (National Championship)

 

                Coming off their improbable run to the national championship, Indiana returns 11 starters and of the 17 players they picked up in the transfer portal, eight could start.  Plus, Coach Curt Cignetti kept nine of his ten assistants, including both coordinators.

INDIANA OFFENSE: Indiana’s offense will turn to a new set of playmakers beginning with TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover who walks into an enviable situation: replacing last year’s Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.  Hoover’s no slouch, however.  He comes to Indiana after throwing for over 9600 yards and 71 touchdowns in his three seasons at TCU.  Sophomore Khobie Martin scored six touchdowns and averaged 6.5 yards per carry as the number three RB and is slated to share the load this year with Boston College transfer junior Turbo Richard who gained over 1000 yards and 11 TDs in two years.  Junior WR Charlie Becker became one of the best receivers in the conference and is the leading returning receiver with 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns.  Coach Cignetti also got two quality receivers out of the transfer portal, and they’ll step in right away.  Junior Nick Marsh caught 100 passes over the last two seasons at Michigan State and senior Shazz Perez hauled in 43 receptions last year at Tulane.  Fifth-year senior Tyler Morris will be in the receiver rotation and is looking to make a come back after sitting out last season due to injury.  The offense will benefit from the return of three veteran linemen.  Senior All-American LT Carter Smith, senior Drew Smith who moved to center from guard, and senior RG Bray Lynch were mainstays in the lineup last year.  Sophomore Adedamola Ajani, who started four games last year, will be a full-time starter at RT, while senior Joe Brunner will take over at LG after transferring in from Wisconsin.

WR Charlie Becker

 

INDIANA DEFENSE: Indiana returns six starters to a defense that was second in the nation in scoring defense (11.7 points per game) and fourth in total defense (266 yards per game).  The defensive line will be bolstered by the return of All-American candidate Tyrique Tucker and All-B1G Mario Landino in the middle.  Tucker led the way last year with 40 tackles, including 12 for a loss and six sacks while Landino pitched in with 32 stops, six TFLs and five sacks.  The Hoosiers will benefit from the addition of Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi at the DE positions, both transferring in from Kansas State.  Both standout linebackers return.  Junior Rolijah Hardy led the team in tackles with 102 tackles, including a whopping 15 TFLs and eight sacks, while senior LB Isaiah Jones contributed 78 stops and also had 15 TFLs and seven sacks.  Senior CB Jamari Sharpe can be counted on to make the big plays in the secondary as witnessed by his 50 tackles and six TFLs.  His one interception of the year saved the win over Miami for the title.  Penn State transfer A.J. Harris will line up at the other CB position.  Senior FS Amare Ferrell returns after getting 48 tackles, four interceptions, and earning second-team All-B1G honors, and 5^th-year senior Preston Zachman, a Wisconsin transfer, will probably take over at strong safety.  Sophomore Byron Baldwin Jr. will likely take over at the rover position after playing on special teams.

DT Tyrique Tucker

 

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior All-B1G kicker Nicholas Radicic returns after nailing 18 of 19 field goal attempts with a long of 46 while junior Quinn Warren will take over the punting chores full-time after averaging 48 yards on his six punts with a long of 57.

SUMMARY: Indiana lost a lot of experience with 23 graduated seniors plus a pair of starters leaving early for the NFL, but Coach Cignetti and his staff have a track record for developing talent.  New QB Josh Hoover has some big shoes to fill, but if he can just manage the offense without too many mistakes and the running backs and receivers step up, Indiana will make the CFP for the third straight year.

PROJECTION: 10-2/7-2  3^rd in B1G