Despite losing a handful of big names to the NFL, the Indiana Hoosiers still boast plenty of star power heading into the 2026 college football season. Players like WR Charlie Becker, WR Nick Marsh, DT Tyrique Tucker, and OT Carter Smith all figure to be top performers at their respective positions.
A look at Indiana’s 2026 schedule makes it clear that the Hoosiers will face no shortage of star talent on opposing rosters this season. Here is a look at the top superstars from opposing teams that Indiana will try to slow down this season.
5 star players who could give Indiana fits this season
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights don't have a roster full of stars, but KJ Duff is definitely one. Duff totaled an impressive 1,084 receiving yards in 2025, which ranked 8th nationally and 3rd in the Big Ten behind only Jeremiah Smith and Makai Lemon. He became the first Rutgers receiver to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark since Leonte Carroo in 2014. Duff is a big-play threat on every snap, as he owns a 6'6" 225-pound frame and excels at bringing down contested catches. Indiana's trip to Piscataway on October 3 isn't the most marquee matchup on the docket, but Duff is a dangerous weapon that the Hoosiers need to limit.
John Henry Daley is the best player to follow Kyle Whittingham from Utah to Michigan. Daley racked up 11.5 sacks, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 2 forced fumbles in 11 games last season. For his efforts, he earned All-American honors and was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to the top defensive player in college football. Indiana's offensive line is loaded with 5th-year seniors and plenty of talent to go around, but keeping Daley in check will be a tall task.
Lincoln Riley-led teams are going to feature great quarterback play and put up points in a hurry. Last season, Trojan QB Jayden Maiava led the Big Ten and ranked 5th nationally with 3,711 passing yards while also tossing 24 touchdowns and rushing for 6 more. Now heading into his senior season, Riley expects a lot from his QB. Maiava has three year of starting experience under his belt and has thrown for nearly 8,000 yards and accounted for 65 total touchdowns in his collegiate career. Entering what could be a make-or-break year for Riley at USC, don't be surprised if Maiava is a Heisman contender in 2026.
Ohio State gunslinger Julian Sayin was an efficiency machine last season. He completed 77.0% of his passes, which was just shy of Bo Nix's FBS record of 77.4%. Sayin accounted for 32 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, and was named a Heisman finalist. He is among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman this season, and is expected to put up monster numbers across the board once again. With his No. 1 target in Jeremiah Smith also back, Ohio State's offense is extremely dangerous. The matchup between the Hoosiers and Buckeyes on October 17 in Bloomington has serious Game of the Year potential.
There's not much debate about Jeremiah Smith being the most dangerous opposing player that Indiana has to worry about this season. Over two seasons in Columbus, Smith has collected 163 catches for 2,558 yards and 27 touchdowns. Ohio State has essentially become a WR factory over the past decade, and Smith is the latest Buckeye to shine. Smith went off in the Big Ten title game against Indiana, totaling 8 catches for 144 yards. Thankfully it wasn't enough for the Buckeyes to win, but allowing Smith to post that kind of stat line on October 17 may not go so well for the Hoosiers.
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