Indiana's offensive potential is getting overlooked and that's a mistake

Heading into the new 2026 college football season, the Indiana Hoosier offense will have plenty of new faces in the mix. Curt Cignetti once again utilized the transfer portal to restock his offense after the likes of Fernando Mendoza, Omar Cooper Jr, Elijah Sarratt, Kaelon Black, Roman Hemby, and Riley Nowakowski are now off to the NFL.

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Along with a talented group of transfers, Indiana boasts several key returners on the offensive side of the ball as well. When looking at the complete picture, the Hoosier offense has plenty of talent to go around. Yet, the Hoosiers are still being overlooked when it comes to ranking the best offenses in college football leading up to the new campaign.

Indiana's offensive potential is being undervalued

On Tuesday, On3 released its rankings of the best offenses in college football for 2026. The Hoosiers come in at No. 9 on the list, and are considered the fourth-best offense in the Big Ten following Oregon, Ohio State, and USC. That is simply not enough respect for the defending national champions.

It's tough to argue with a Top-4 group consisting of Miami (FL), Ohio Oregon, Ohio State, and Texas. All of those teams have offensive gurus running the system and elite talent everywhere you look. They should be able to light up the scoreboard on a consisted basis this season.

But the 4-8 teams consisting of USC, Ole Miss, LSU, and Notre Dame bring plenty of question marks. In turn, the Hoosiers should be higher on the list. Lincoln Riley's teams at USC have continuously underperformed, and Ole Miss is entering its first full season without Lane Kiffin since he took over in Oxford back in 2020.

Kiffin is now in Baton Rouge, where the LSU offense feature a huge roster overhaul and plenty of moving parts. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for to rush for more than 2,000 yards last season, and now they are both gone. Replacing that kind of production in South Bend won't be easy.

Indiana's great mix of incoming and returning talent gives the Hoosier offense plenty of potential

Via the portal, Cignetti went out and got QB Josh Hoover from TCU and WR Nick Marsh. Hoover was on the most sought-after QBs on the market, while Marsh was one of the most coveted wideouts to hit the portal. Together, they figure to be two of the most impactful transfers in the country this season.

Indiana's portal class also features WR Shazz Preston from Tulane, RB Turbo Richard from Boston College, and IOL Joe Brunner from Wisconsin, while returning WR Charlier Becker is already garnering first round NFL Draft hype.

Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh are on the verge of something special in 2026

Preston could be flying under the radar with Becker and Marsh getting so much of the attention, and the former Tulane playmaker could be on breakout watch. Richard brings a dynamic skill set that can make plays both on the ground and in the passing game, and Brunner was ranked as the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the portal by On3.

Furthermore, key returners on the offensive line including Carter Smith, Drew Evans, Bray Lynch, and Adedamola Ajani give the Hoosiers plenty of continuity in the trenches. That kind of returning production is extremely valuable in today's age of college football.

Throw all of that talent into a Mike Shanahan-led system, and the sky is the limit for the Hoosier offense. Shanahan has emerged into the best offensive coordinator in the country, and his leadership turned Fernando Mendoza into a Heisman Trophy winner. No matter how you slice it, this Indiana offense is poised for a monster season and is not to be taken lightly.

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