Curt Cignetti and the Indiana Hoosiers are less than one month away from taking the field for the first time in the new college football season. Coming off a perfect 16-0 season and National Championship, the Hoosiers are set to begin the new campaign on September 5 against North Texas.
Heading into their title-defending season, here are 5 storylines that will determine the Hoosiers' success on the gridiron in 2026.
Can Indiana strike gold again with another transfer QB?
Cignetti's strategy when it comes to the quarterback position has been abundantly clear. He's now brought in a trio of veteran gunslingers through the portal, and so far he's struck gold on the first two. Kurtis Rourke and Fernando Mendoza both shined in Bloomington, with the latter winning the Heisman Trophy and leading IU to a national title last season.
Now TCU transfer Josh Hoover is looking to be the next portal QB to excel under Cignetti's leadership. Hoover has the experience and talent needed to thrive, and Hoosier football fans are eager to see what he can do. If Cignetti strikes gold again with Hoover, Indiana should be in good shape.
Can the running game carry on without missing a beat?
Replacing one 1,000-yard rusher is hard enough. But Indiana has to replace two. Both Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black exceeded the 1,000-yard mark last season, and both are now off to the NFL. Some familiar faces are back in Indiana's RB room, including Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr. Martin put forth a strong freshman season by racking up 505 yards and a team-leading 6.2 yards per carry while finding the end zone 6 times.
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Beebe was also impressive early on, as he collected 209 yards and a touchdown through 3 games. However, his season was then cut short with a knee injury. Both Martin and Beebe are poised for larger role this season, while Boston College transfer Turbo Richard also figures to see plenty of opportunities.
How elite can the WR core be?
Wide receiver is unquestionably Indiana's deepest position group on the offensive side of the ball. Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh figure to lead the way. Becker is back after a monster second half of the season that included clutch moment after clutch moment during Indiana's CFP run. Marsh comes to Indiana via Michigan State, and he was a standout playmaker in a poor Spartan passing attack. Now in a better situation, Marsh is primed for a monster season.
While Becker and Marsh are the headliners, other wideouts such as Tulane transfer Shazz Preston, Michigan transfer Tyler Morris and returner Davion Chandler, give the Hoosiers plenty of talent and depth at WR position. How elite this group can be figures to play a large part in Indiana's success this season.
Can Bryant Haines replace 4 key starters without losing the defense's identity?
Indiana lost some key playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Core contributors including Aiden Fisher, Mikail Kamara, D'Angelo Ponds, and Louis Moore are all gone, and replacing their production and veteran leadership won't be easy for defensive coordinator Bryant Haines.
The good news is that Indiana's front-7 figures be among the best in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers return their Top-5 sack leaders from last season, and Kansas State transfers Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor are both poised for big contributions. Haines has the pieces in place, and now it's just a matter of putting it all together.
How will the Hoosiers respond to having a target on their backs?
After winning it all last season, the Hoosiers undoubtedly have a target on their backs this season. The hunters have become the hunted. Thus, Cignetti's focus in the locker room has shifted from building the program up, to sustaining its success.
Everyone wants to bring down the champs. When looking at Indiana's upcoming schedule, the Hoosiers will be everyone's Super Bowl this season. Does that dynamic change Indiana's mentality heading into the new season? With Cignetti leading the way, IU football fans are plenty confident in his ability to continue producing elite results. But it will be interesting to see how the Hoosiers handle being the top target for every team they face.
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