Author: Mike Schumann

College football season is rapidly approaching, with fall camp underway. We’re going through Indiana’s schedule to look ahead at all 12 opponents for 2026. Opponent: Washington Date/Time/TV: Saturday, November 21, TBD Location: Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington (70,138) 2025 record/postseason result: 9-4, 5-4 Big Ten (38-10 win over Boise State in LA Bowl) Overall returning production: 65 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (No. 14 in the country, sixth in the Big Ten) Returning production, offense: 69 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (13th in the country) Offensive outlook:  Washington’s offense improved significantly in year two under head coach Jedd Fisch.  The Huskies averaged 23.4 points…

A year ago ESPN college football analysts were fully bought in on an IU football narrative: The 2024 team was a fluke that had risen to prominence because it had played a soft schedule. Of course they were all wildly inaccurate in that assessment. Now there seems to be another consensus when it comes to Curt Cignetti’s third Indiana team:  It is too hard to repeat as national champion. A panel of 12 at ESPN made their 2026 national champion predictions — and none chose the Hoosiers to repeat. Instead, five are going with Notre Dame, three with Ohio State,…

Trayce Jackson-Davis is putting his family over his alma mater. And who can blame him? When his brother Tayven Jackson returns to Bloomington on Saturday as the starting quarterback for North Texas, TJD will be in the stands supporting him. And that means trading IU crimson for North Texas green for one afternoon. “I’m definitely gonna be repping the Mean Green with my brother. It’s always family first,” Jackson-Davis said on The Sam Acho’s Podcast. “I have no hate against Indiana by any means, but it’s definitely gonna be a Mean Green show, and I’ll be there front and center,…

IU football’s Isaiah Jones and Carter Smith are both from Ohio. Jones’ father played tight end for Ohio State, and Smith grew up in Columbus.  They were both immersed in Buckeye football. For their fathers, the darkest day is known as when Indiana went into Ohio Stadium and beat Ohio State 31-10 in 1987. But for Smith and Jones, their own low point at Indiana came decades later against another team from Ohio. Surrounded by an elite OSU program throughout their young lives, they probably could not have imagined how low things could get in Bloomington.  After all, Ohio State…

After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season. Next up are the running backs. THE COACH Although he is just 29, John Miller is one of Curt Cignetti’s longest-tenured position coaches.  Miller joined Curt Cignetti’s staff in 2021 as running backs coach at his alma mater James Madison, and he’s held that role under Cignetti since. THE MAIN MEN As has been the case each of the last two years, Indiana enters the season with a three-headed…

College football season is rapidly approaching, with fall camp underway. We’re going through Indiana’s schedule to look ahead at all 12 opponents for 2026. Opponent: USC Date/Time/TV: Saturday, November 14, TBD Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana 2025 record/postseason result: 9-4, 7-2 Big Ten (30-27 loss to TCU in the Alamo Bowl) Overall returning production: 64 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (No. 16 in the country, seventh in the Big Ten) Returning production, offense: 64 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (26th in the country) Offensive outlook:  Head coach Lincoln Riley remains the team’s playcaller.  The offense has generally not been the problem under…

After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season. Next up is the offensive line. THE COACH Bob Bostad is the lone holdover from Tom Allen’s tenure as Indiana head coach.  Bostad joined Allen’s staff in 2023, and Curt Cignetti retained him.  That was a decision he has not regretted.  IU was good up front in 2024, and elite in 2025. THE MAIN MEN The starting lineup has been clear for a while. Carter Smith (6-foot-5, 310) is…

Indiana will open the 2026 season about as healthy as it could hope for. On Monday ahead of his team’s season debut, head coach Curt Cignetti revealed the team has suffered no serious injuries at fall camp. “We didn’t lose anyone other than probably (freshman tight end Trevor) Gibbs would be questionable for the game,” Cignetti said.  “He would be the only one.” Gibbs had emerged as one of three young tight ends competing for snaps during fall camp.  His setback will likely mean Andrew Barker or Brock Schott will see the majority of the action. The health trend has…

The long wait is almost is over.  College football is back, as the reigning national champs return to action this Saturday. The No. 6 Hoosiers (0-0) will face North Texas (0-0) Saturday at Noon ET inside Memorial Stadium in Bloomington (FOX). This is the third all-time meeting between the programs.  They played in 2011 and 2014, with each team winning on its home field. Like Indiana, North Texas is coming off its most wins in a season in program history.  The Mean Green went 12-2 a year ago and won the American Athletic Conference title.  They finished the season in…

After watching three weeks of practice and talking with the players and coaches this month, it’s time to take a final position-by-position look at IU football ahead of the 2026 season. Next up are the defensive backs. THE COACHES Both of the defensive back coaches were new hires for head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024. Safeties:  Ola Adams is entering his third season coaching the safeties under Cignetti and defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. Cornerbacks:  Rod Ojong is also entering his third season under Cignetti and Haines. THE MAIN MEN Senior Amare Ferrell (6-foot-2, 205) is entering is third season as a starting…