Believe it or not, we are officially halfway through the regular season for the Indiana Hoosiers. The Cream and Crimson have won all six of their games, although they have definitely shown plenty of vulnerabilities. Now that we're at the halfway point, it's time to hand out some grades for each position group.
Quarterbacks: A
It's hard not to be excited about Josh Hoover's first six games at Indiana. The TCU transfer has completed 68.2% of his passes for 1,364 yards and 17 touchdowns. Most importantly, he hasn't thrown an interception through 129 pass attempts. He's shown great chemistry with both Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, and looks extremely comfortable leading Indiana's RPO-heavy offense. Following in Fernando Mendoza's footsteps is no easy task, but Hoover has looked great.
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Behind Hoover, both Grant Wilson and Tyler Cherry saw limited action in the non-conference slate. Wilson completed four of his five pass attempts for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also rushing for 45 yards and a touchdown on four carries. Cherry has one completion for 10 yards on three attempts.
Running Backs: B+
The Hoosier rushing attack has been great this season--for the most part. Turbo Richard leads the Big Ten with 597 yard while Lee Beebe Jr. ranks 3rd in the conference with 551 yards of his own. They have nine touchdowns between them, and have been able to find big chunks of yards on a consistent basis. However, the running game was nearly non-existent in Week 6 against Nebraska, as the Hoosiers totaled just 65 yards on 22 attempts. That bad outing prevents this unit from getting a higher grade.
Tight Ends: C
Indiana hasn't asked much of its tight ends early on in 2026. That isn't necessarily surprising, as Indiana's TE group entered the season young and inexperienced. In fact, Hoosier tight ends had just 17 total snaps of college football experience between them heading into Week 1. As a whole, Indiana TEs have just four catches for 52 yards on the season. Trevor Gibbs emerged as a receiving threat with two catches for 24 yards against Nebraska, so perhaps he is turning a corner and on the verge of a larger role. With tougher competition looming, getting more production from the tight ends could be a big development for the Hoosier offense.
Offensive Line: A
With four of the five starters up front being fifth-year seniors, Indiana's offensive line has plenty of experience and veteran leadership. So far it's showing. They are opening holes for the running game, and have done a solid job of keeping Hoover upright. Hoover has been sacked just eight times through six games, and has rarely been under duress.
Wide Receivers: A+
Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh have both been exceptional so far this season, and have nearly identical stats. Becker has 30 catches for 529 yards and eight touchdowns while Marsh has 29 catches for 528 yards and six touchdowns. Together, they are one of the best WR duos in all of college football. But behind them, nobody has really stepped up to become Indiana's go-to WR3 so far this season.
Defensive Line: B+
Tobi Osunsanmi has been a great portal addition for the Hoosier defense, as he leads the Big Ten with 9.5 tackles for loss and is tied for the conference lead with 5.0 sacks. He leads a well-rounded defensive front that also features veteran playmakers Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino. The Hoosiers have recorded 20.0 total sacks, which ranks 3rd in the country. Indiana is also allowing just 75.0 rushing yards per game, which is the best mark in the Big Ten and good for 7th nationally.
Linebackers: A
Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy have been their normal productive selves so far this season. Through six games, Jones leads the Hoosiers with 46 tackles, while Hardy isn't far behind with 41 of his own. Both have an interception on the season, and their veteran leadership in the middle of the field continues to be a major advantage.
Defensive Backs: C+
The Indiana secondary has had some trouble this season. Most notably, Aidan Chiles and Northwestern did whatever they wanted against Indiana back in Week 4, and Anthony Colandrea and Nebraska had an strong day through the air in Week 6. Those were the two best offenses the Hoosiers have faced so far this season, and to see this group struggle was a bit concerning. The IU secondary better get things figured out quick with Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and Ohio State coming to town this weekend.
Special Teams: B-
Special teams have been a strength for Indiana under Curt Cignetti, but this year there have been some hiccups. Nico Radicic has missed some time with an injury, and Paddy McAteer missed and extra point and a field goal while filling in as Indiana's placekicker. Radicic himself has missed an extra point and a field goal as well. The Hoosiers have broken through for some big kick returns, and the punting game has been solid.
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