Indiana: 3 games that will define 2026 season

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The Indiana Hoosiers enter 2026 fresh off a national championship victory.

Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti is 27-2 during his first two seasons with the program, and the team is expected to compete for a College Football Playoff spot this year.

Indiana will be without star quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who became the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Hoosiers will turn to TCU transfer Josh Hoover, who threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

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The Hoosiers have an easy non-conference schedule against North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky, but things will get much trickier for Cignetti during Big Ten play. Here are the three games that will define Indiana’s season.

Ohio State at Indiana (Oct. 17)

Indiana and Ohio State met in the Big Ten Championship last year, with the Hoosiers leaning on their defense to earn a 13-10 win.

The Buckeyes offense should be much better this season with quarterback Julian Sayin in his second season as a starter. Indiana will have the benefit of a home crowd against Ohio State. The winner of this October matchup will be in the driver’s seat to return to the Big Ten Championship Game this year.

One of Cignetti’s two losses at Indiana came against Ohio State in 2024. The Buckeyes won that contest 38-15 in Columbus.

Indiana at Michigan (Oct. 24)

Indiana won’t have a break after playing Ohio State. The Hoosiers will turnaround and play another Big Ten powerhouse in Michigan at the “Big House.”

New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham will be looking for a signature win this season. Given the outcome of Indiana’s contest against Ohio State the week before, the Hoosiers might be in a “must win” situation when playing the Wolverines, who should be a Top 25 program this fall.

Michigan’s offense could give Indiana trouble. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, running back Jordan Marshall and wide receiver Andrew Marsh are a dangerous trio.

USC at Indiana (Nov. 14)

USC doesn’t like traveling to Indiana in November, but there’s nothing they can do about the Big Ten’s scheduling. Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley is facing pressure to make the CFP this season, and a win against the Hoosiers would be a key victory for their resume.

USC is retiring all five of its starting offensive linemen for this season, and the battle in the trenches could decide the outcome of this November game in Bloomington.

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