Indiana Hoosiers 2026 Football Preview

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Indiana football in recent years has played with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. In 2019, then-athletic director Fred Glass accused Scott Frost of disrespecting the program, which brought a puzzled reaction from Lincoln trying to figure out what the issue was. Turns out that when Nebraska pointed out that the Huskers had faced Ohio State three times in Lincoln before Maryland and Indiana made their first trips as conference foes, Indiana became indignant. After milking the issue against Frost in 2019, the Hoosiers targeted their disrepect game at the Big Ten conference, this time indignant that Indiana was bypassed for the Big Ten championship game in favor of Ohio State, who eventually advanced to the CFP championship game. They removed all of the Big Ten logos from their bowl game uniforms, and promptly dropped a turd in the Outback Bowl, losing 26-20 to an Ole Miss team that finished 5-5.

The Disrespect Game wasn’t sustainable, as Indiana went 9-27 over the next three seasons. Out went Tom Allen, in came Curt Cignetti from James Madison. Another guy with a chip on his shoulder. At his opening press conference, Cignetti dropped this line:

“It’s pretty simple: I win. Google me.”

Unlike his predecessor, Cignetti backs up his bravado; he’s 27-2 in two seasons at Indiana and is the defending national champion. Any scoffing of Cignetti didn’t last long in 2024, and now NOBODY needs to Google Curt Cignetti. Cignetti can’t play the disrepect game any more, because everyone respects what Curt Cignetti is doing.

That being said, there are questions about the 2026 edition of the Hoosiers, starting at quarterback where TCU transfer Josh Hoover (6’2” 200 lbs.) is set to take over for Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. Hoover put up fine numbers at TCU last season, completing nearly 66% of his passes for 3,472 yards and 29 touchdowns with 13 interceptions. Hoover isn’t a threat to run, netting just four yards rushing after subtracting sacks last season. Cignetti’s track record with taking quarterback play to the next level suggests that Hoover likely will end up being one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten this season. Backing up Hoover will be senior Grant Wilson (6’3” 220 lbs.) who previously started 14 games for Old Dominion in 2023 and 2024, completing 57% of his passes for 2,656 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

Indiana does have to replace two 1,000 yard rushers, but adds in Boston College transfer Turbo Richard (5’8” 207 lbs.), who rushed for 749 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. Sophomore Khobie Martin (6’0” 208 lbs.) rushed for 506 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.5 yards per carry last season. Senior Lee Beebe (5’10” 218 lbs.) rushed for 209 yards at an eye-popping 7.7 yards per carry in the first three games before going down with an injury. In 2024, Bee rushed for 885 yards for UAB, so he’s also a proven back. All told, Indiana should be still be strong running the ball in 2026.

Fresh off of destroying Fox commentator Gus Johnson’s vocal chords, wide receiver Omar Cooper is off to the NFL as are Elijah Sarratt and tight end Riley Nowakowski. Taking over this year junior Charlie Becker (6’4” 209 lbs.), who caught 34 passes for 679 yards and four touchdowns last season. Filling the void from the NFL draft picks will be Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh (6’3” 208 lbs.) with 1,311 career receiving yards, Michigan transfer Tyler Morris (5’11” 183 lbs.) with 470 career yards, and Tulane transfer Shazz Preston (6’0” 206 lbs.) with 822 yards. While this group might not be as great as last year’s, this still looks like a solid group.

Indiana returns three starters from last year’s Joe Moore Award finalist group, and is adding in two-year Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner (6’5” 317 lbs.) at left guard. The returnees are being led by senior First Team All-Big Ten left tackle Carter Smith (6’5” 313 lbs.) along with two-year starter Bray Lynch (6’5” 312 lbs.) at right guard. Senior center Drew Evans (6’4” 309 lbs.) also returns. With that level of returning experience, they’ll be loaded again which should ease ANY concerns about the running backs.

If there are any question marks with Indiana, it might be with the front seven of the defense. Let me emphasize here: MIGHT BE. Up front, both interior tackles return on the defensive line. Senior Tyrique Tucker (6’0” 302 lbs.) led Indiana’s defensive line with six sacks last season while junior Mario Landino (6’4” 285 lbs.) took over mid-season and finished with five sacks. On the ends, Kansas State transfers Chiddi Obiazor (6’6” 275 lbs.) Tobi Osunsanmi (6’3” 250 lbs.) should fill the graduation losses.

At linebacker, Indiana will need to replace first-team All-American Aiden Fisher, but do have last year’s leading tackler back in junior weakside linebacker Rolijah Hardy (5’11” 229 lbs.) who had 102 tackles. Senior middle linebacker Isaiah Jones (6’2” 230 lbs.) had 78 tackles last year as a backup.

The Hoosier secondary should be the strength of the defense, led by senior cornerback Jamari Sharpe (6’1” 187 lbs.) who had 50 tackles and six pass breakups last season. Senior safety Amare Ferrell (6’2” 202 lbs.) added 48 tackles and seven pass-breakups last season, and led Indiana with four interceptions. Joining the Hoosiers are Penn State transfer cornerback A.J. Harris (6’1” 191 lbs.) who had 33 tackles last season and Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman (6’1” 212 lbs.), who missed most of last season due to injury but does have 20 career starts.

I don’t need Google to tell me that Curt Cignetti has another potent team in 2026. Big Ten or national championship favorites? Probably not, but definitely a contender. Is that disrepect? Hell no, but that probably won’t stop someone in red candy stripes from claiming it anyway.

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