The Indiana Hoosiers are officially halfway through the regular season. Indiana has played six games, and won all six. The Hoosiers' winning streak now sits at 22, and will be seriously put to the test in Week 7 against Ohio State.
But before the 5th-ranked Hoosiers battle the 4th-ranked Buckeyes, it's time to take a look at some key players from the first half of the season. Some Hoosiers have exceeded expectations, while others will be called upon to deliver better results in the second half of the season.
3 Indiana players who have exceeded expectations so far
QB Josh Hoover
Replacing Fernando Mendoza isn't an easy task, but Josh Hoover has exceeded expectations by a wide margin through his first six games as a Hoosier. So far, Hoover has completed 68.2% of his passes for 1,364 yards and 17 touchdowns with zero interceptions. Not too shabby. He came to Indiana after leading the Big 12 with 13 interceptions at TCU last season, and tossed 33 picks over the last three seasons. That was his biggest knock when he entered the portal, but so far he has avoided throwing a single interception over the course of 129 pass attempts.
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Hoover is in a much more complimentary system with a reliable running game and strong defense, meaning he doesn't have to take nearly as many risks as he did at TCU. He's looked more and more comfortable in each outing, and came up with a clutch performance in the 4th quarter against Nebraska this past weekend. Moving forward, IU football fans have plenty of confidence in Hoover's ability to lead the offense and deliver elite results.
RB Lee Beebe Jr.
Heading into the season, Boston College transfer Turbo Richard was expected to take on a leading role in the Hoosiers backfield, while Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr also got steady chances behind him. But when Khobie Martin suffered a broken forearm early on in Week 1, Beebe Jr was thrust into a bigger role. He's made the most of his opportunities, rushing for 551 yards with four touchdowns on a team-leading 98 carries. He stepped up in a major way against Northwestern when Richard went down with a lower body injury, racking up 203 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Martin is hoping to return soon, but there's no denying that Beebe has earned more opportunities moving forward.
EDGE Tobi Osunsanmi
The Indiana defensive front possesses plenty of talent and experience across the board. Kansas State transfer Tobi Osunsanmi has been a force to be reckoned with, and has been a major disrupter all season long. He is tied for the Big Ten lead in sacks with 5.0, and leads the conference with 9.5 tackles for loss. Both of those marks are career-bests for Osunsanmi, who figures to continue playing a leading role on the IU defensive line the rest of the way.
3 Indiana players who need to step up in the second half of the season
WR Shazz Preston
Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh have both posted huge numbers this season, but the Hoosiers are still looking for a go-to WR3. Shazz Preston has the third-most receiving yards on the team this season with 123 yards on 9 catches. As the schedule picks up in competition, Becker and Marsh are going to need some help. Getting more steady contributions from Preston, as well as Tyler Morris and Davion Chandler, will be big for the Hoosiers.
CB Jamari Sharpe
The Hoosier secondary has been gashed at times through the first half of the season. Most notably, Indiana let Aidan Chiles and Northwestern do whatever they wanted in the passing game back in Week 4, which put the Hoosiers on upset alert. After coming down with the game-clinching interception in the National Championship Game last season, CB Jamari Sharpe is a defensive leader for the Hoosier secondary. A fifth-year senior, Sharpe has 16 tackles. 1.0 tackle for loss, and an interception through five games this season. As the Hoosiers go up against tougher offenses such as Ohio State, USC, and Washington in the next few weeks, as well as whoever they may meet in the postseason, Sharpe's experience and leadership needs to lead the way for the IU secondary.
K Nico Radicic
The kicking game has been uncharacteristically spotty so far in 2026. Nico Radicic and Paddy McAteer have both missed extra points, and both have missed field goals. Radicic seems to be back to full health after missing two games in the non-conference slate, and his accuracy and reliability will be leaned upon once again down the stretch. Radicic played a vital role in Indiana's national title last season, as he knocked down 18 of his 19 field goal attempts and all 87 of his extra point tries. He came up with clutch kicks when it mattered most, and if the Hoosiers want to compete for another title, Radicic's performance is sure to have an impact.
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