Indiana's 2026 regular season schedule presents a solid mix of manageable matchups and challenging contests. The Hoosiers get to ease into the new campaign with a breeze of a non-conference slate and workable Big Ten games against Rutgers, Northwestern, and Nebraska to begin the conference schedule. But things pick up in a major way from there.
Over their last six games, the Hoosiers will face four teams ranked in the AP Top-25 preseason poll. That stretch could make-or-break the season for Curt Cignetti and company. But every team has its weaknesses, and after watching what Cignetti has done over his first two seasons in Bloomington, he will be ready for whatever IU's opponents bring to the table.
With the season set to commence, here is an early look at the biggest weakness for all 12 of Indiana's regular season opponents.
One weakness for every team the Hoosiers play this season
Sept. 5 vs North Texas: Roster turnover and lost production
North Texas won 12 games and was among the best Group of 6 teams in the country last season. However, head coach Eric Morris left for the Oklahoma State job and took a ton of talent with him. Most notably, QB Drew Mestemaker, who led the entire country with 4,379 passing yards last season, is now also in Stillwater. Morris' departure left new head coach Neal Brown is essentially put together an entirely new roster. Owning a transfer portal class that features a whopping 49 players, the Mean Green have essentially zero roster continuity from last season.
Sept. 12 vs Howard: Rushing defense
The Howard Bison played in Week 0, earning a 31-24 win over Alabama A&M. Despite getting the win, Howard was abysmal against the run. Alabama A&M ran for 151 yards on just 19 carries, which equates to a yards per carry average of 7.2. Howard allowed four rushes of 20+ yards and two of 35+ yards. Indiana's three-headed rushing attack consisting of Turbo Richard, Khobie Martin, and Lee Beebe Jr. could all put forth great performances in this matchup.
Sept. 19: vs Western Kentucky: New-look rushing attack
Clay Helton-led offenses at Western Kentucky have tended to rely on prolific passing. But the Hilltoppers don't want to be too one-dimensional. Helton will want to get the run game into a groove, but that could prove to be difficult without their top-3 rushers from last season. Marvis Parrish, La'Vell Wright, and George Hart III combined for over 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, with Wright running for 10 of them. Replacing that kind of production is no easy task. Tulsa transfer Ajay Allen and Oklahoma State transfer Kalib Hicks have their work cut out for them.
Sept. 25 vs Northwestern: Punt returns
Northwestern's special teams have been a roller coaster ride under head coach David Braun. Specifically, the Wildcats have struggled mightily when it comes to returning punts. Last season, Northwestern was tied for 2nd-worst in the entire country by averaging just 1.8 yards per punt return. That is not a great recipe for success when it comes to gaining favorable field position. Look for Cignetti and Indiana special teams coordinator Grant Cain to exploit this weakness.
Oct. 3 at Rutgers: Defensive identity
Greg Schiano typically has strong defensive units. That has not been the case over the past two seasons. Rutgers ranked 17th in the Big Ten by allowing 393.8 yards per game, and things got even worse last season when the Scarlet Knights ranked dead last in the league by surrendering 432.8 total yards per game. The Rutgers' defense ranked 127th in the nation overall, leaving Schiano with a lot to fix heading into the 2026 campaign.
Oct. 10 at Nebraska: The quarterback situation
Dylan Raiola was supposed to be Nebraska's saving grace at Nebraska. The former 5-star prospect entered his college career among the most-hyped QB recruits in recent memory, but his time at Nebraska yielded underwhelming results. He did what he could, and was having a strong season with exactly 2,000 yards, a completion percentage of 72.4%, 18 touchdowns and just 6 interceptions before suffering a season-ending injury. He is now off to Oregon, with UNLV transfer Anthony Colandrea taking over as QB1 for the Cornhuskers. Colandrea has plenty of experience, but he's thrown 29 interceptions over his three collegiate seasons.
Oct. 17 vs Ohio State: Offensive line
Continuity isn't a problem for the Ohio State offensive line. The Buckeyes return four starters from last year, including Second-Team All-Big Ten selections Luke Montgomery and Austin Siereveld. However, the OSU offensive line got thoroughly dominated when it mattered most. Indiana pushed OSU around in the trenches in the Big Ten title game, and Miami (FL) was the more physically imposing team in their CFP quarterfinal matchup. Heading into 2026, there are plenty of question marks surrounding this Buckeye O-line.
Oct. 24 at Michigan: Interior defense
Michigan possesses a strong duo of EDGE rushers in Utah transfer John Henry Daley and senior Cameron Brandt. However, the Wolverine defensive front is far less intimidating on the interior. Trey Pierce, Manuel Biegel, and Enow Etta are relatively unproven compared to what Daley and Brandt have done throughout their respective careers. If Indiana's experienced offensive line can win the battles in the trenches and let the offense operate, the Hoosiers greatly improve their chances of leaving Ann Arbor with a win.
Oct. 31 vs Minnesota: Consistency from Drake Lindsey
Last season, Minnesota's success was vastly dependent on QB Drake Lindsey's efficiency. The Golden Gophers were a perfect 5-0 when he completed at least 65% of his pass attempts. However, they went just 2-4 when he failed to reach that mark. Eliminating high-percentage throws and making Lindsey uncomfortable will be a major key for the IU defense in this one.
Nov. 14 vs USC: Lincoln Riley in big games
Lincoln Riley's tenure at USC has been underwhelming. Through five seasons, Riley is 36-18 overall with a 24-12 mark in Big Ten play. It's not terrible, but USC expects more. Riley has yet to lead the Trojans to the College Football Playoff, and is still searching for a signature win that propels his team back into the national conversation. Heading into Year 6, this could be a make-or-break campaign for Riley.
Nov. 21 at Washington: Offensive firepower against elite teams
Generally speaking, Washington has won the games its supposed to under Jedd Fisch. However, the Huskies have struggled to generate offense against the Big Ten's top-tier teams. Last year against Ohio State, Michigan, and Oregon, Washington managed to score just 27 total points. They also scored just 10 points in a shocking loss to Wisconsin. Demond Williams is back at QB, which puts Washington's offensive ceiling pretty high. But consistency against tough competition is a weakness heading into the 2026 season.
Nov. 28 vs Purdue: Being Purdue
While Indiana has been taking the college football world by storm, Purdue has been in the cellar of the Big Ten. The Boilermakers are just 3-21 in the last two years with just one of those wins coming against an FBS opponent. Furthermore, Purdue has posted back-to-back 0-9 seasons in Big Ten play. Cignetti has led Indiana to overpowering wins against Purdue during his tenure, winning 66-0 two years ago and 56-3 last year. Yikes!
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