Early on in the offseason, Curt Cignetti wasted no time in finding his next transfer portal QB. He went down to Forth Worth to nab Josh Hoover from TCU, and he comes to Bloomington with plenty of expectations.
Hoover spent four seasons with the Horned Frogs, and he's racked up 9,629 yards and 79 total touchdowns in his collegiate career. Those numbers give him the most production out of any returning QB in the country heading into 2026.
But there's a lot more to like about Hoover than his experience, and FOX Sports' Joel Klatt continues to pump Hoover's tires leading up to the new season.
Why Josh Hoover enters his IU tenure with more pressure than Fernando Mendoza, according to Joel Klatt
Klatt has already given Hoover plenty of praise this offseason, but now he is explaining why the new Hoosier gunslinger faces higher expectations than Mendoza did a year ago.
Speaking on his podcast, The Joel Klatt Show, the former Colorado QB turned analyst stated that he thinks higher of Hoover than Mendoza or even Kurtis Rourke going into their Indiana season. Klatt notes Hoover's experience, throwing ability, and familiarity with Indiana's ROP-heavy style that Cignetti and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan like to run.
"He's got a ton of experience, threw it all over the yard at TCU. He averaged over 300 yards per game throwing the football in his 31 starts for Sonny Dykes. Nobody threw more RPO passes than Mendoza a year ago in college football. Second on that list was Josh Hoover."Joel Klatt
Are expectations for Josh Hoover higher than Mendoza's Indiana season?@joelklatt shares his thoughts on the new @IndianaFootball QB heading into the 2026 season. pic.twitter.com/4iULd7VlFw
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) June 24, 2026
Kaltt also notes the elite receiving core that Hoover will have at his disposal in Bloomington. Charlie Becker emerged into a hero during IU's College Football Playoff run, while Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh was one of the most coveted wideouts in the portal. Together, Becker and Marsh have the potential to be the most lethal receiving duo in all of college football.
Joel Klatt believes Josh Hoover can solve his interception problem at Indiana
If there is one knock on Hoover, it's turnovers. Hoover threw 33 interceptions over his last 3 seasons at TCU, which included a career-high 13 picks last season. However, an elite defense and reliable rushing attack should work in Hoover's favor when it comes to limiting turnovers. He didn't have either of those things last season in Fort Worth.
Thus, he will likely not be asked to put the ball in the air was much as he did at TCU. Instead, Hoover can be more methodical and tactical when leading the Hoosier passing attack.
It also helps to have elite coaches as well. Cignetti and Shanahan have developed a solid RPO-heavy system that prioritizes protecting the football. As Klatt explains, the numbers speak for themselves.
"[Curt] Cignetti and [Mike] Shanahan can coach up scheme. Indiana has the fewest amount of interceptions per game in the country since those two guys got there. So in the last two years they don't turn the football over. I think that Hoover can curb those interceptions, and he's gonna have a great year."Joel Klatt
As long as Hoover can cut down on his turnovers, he should be in a great position to have a tremendous season. Cignetti has a proven track record of consistent success with quarterbacks, and Hoover seems to make for an ideal fit in Bloomington.
Hoover will lead the Hoosiers fo the first time in the season opener on Saturday, September 5 against North Texas.
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