Hoosier State of Mind
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Three Storylines to follow during Indiana Football Spring Practice.

There is a buzz around Indiana football with new head coach Curt Cignetti. He's condensed the Spring practice schedule, and the Hoosiers have a spring game for the first time in years. These are three important storylines to follow heading into Spring Practice.

By Dante Pryor

Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers fans yell during the NCAA football game.
Sep 2, 2023; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Indiana Hoosiers fans yell during the NCAA football game. / Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA
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Sept 9, 2023; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Cavaliers quarterback. / Hannah Pajewski-USA TODAY Sports

Can these guys play in the Big Ten?

Okay, the answer to this question won't happen until the regular season. However, let's see how these James Madison transfers look next to their new Big Ten teammates. Indiana was no slouch defensively despite the offense being anemic at times.

The Hoosiers were non-competitive twice last season, against Michigan and Maryland. They were competitive against Ohio State and Penn State. Those might be different games if the Hoosiers have an offense. Injuries and talent depth cost them at the end of the season.

Between the transfer portal, graduation, and the NFL Draft, the defense took a severe hit. Several of Cignetti's defensive players followed him to Bloomington. The Dukes were a top 30 defense and top five against the run. While Indiana was solid against the pass, they were 80th in college football against the run. The Dukes were a top-30 defense and top-five against the run.

It is a leap, however, from the Group of Five to the Power Five. In addition to four transfers from JMU, Cignetti and his staff took transfers from Troy and Old Dominion. Given that Indiana's 2024 schedule includes Ohio State, Louisville, and Maryland in the first month, it won't take long to know if they can play in the Big Ten.

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