Author: Mike Schumann

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…

Indiana football’s last two starting quarterbacks will be with NFL teams this season. After being drafted No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, Fernando Mendoza is of course going to be on the roster.  The only question was whether he’d be the starter or the backup.  The Raiders are sticking with their plan to have Mendoza begin the season as a backup to Kirk Cousins, CBS Sports is reporting. Over the preseason, Mendoza completed 25 of his 45 passes (55.6%) for 240 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Cousins, 38, is entering his 15th season in the NFL.…

IU basketball is getting a September official visit from class of 2028 5-star guard Brady Pettigrew, 247Sports national analyst Dushawn London is reporting. It’s one of nine officials he’ll take from September through January.  Pettigrew will visit Bloomington the weekend of Sept. 18-20, London says. Pettigrew also visited IU last October on an unofficial visit.  The Indiana staff offered him in May. The 6-foot-4 Pettigrew averaged 20 points per game as a sophomore, to go with four rebounds and three assists for Bolingbrook H.S. in the Chicago area. The 5-star prospect is the No. 14 overall player in the 2028…

As you’ve likely read in recent weeks, IU has obtained a $50 million line of credit related to Memorial Stadium and is seeking another $150 million from the state. In an interview on Sidelines Stories with Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish, IU AD Scott Dolson spoke about the plans for the $50 million, and the future vision for enhancements to Memorial Stadium as additional funds become available. On the initial $50 million… “The $50 million is really a line of credit to help us on the guts of the building to make certain that we can handle sellouts, that we…

How will IU pay tribute to the 2025 national champions at the 2026 season opener? They’re not sharing anything specific, but the athletic department is recommending an early arrival inside Memorial Stadium so you don’t miss it. “I would recommend to get in the stands early because I think it will be some fun stuff that we’ll do to kick off the season that that we’re super excited about,” IU AD Scott Dolson told Tricia Whitaker and Sydney Parrish on the Sideline Stories podcast this week. “So, I’d say just get there early. It’s a noon kick and and again,…

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 linebackers. THE COACHES Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines coaches the linebackers.  In a recent interview, head coach Curt Cignetti said he thought Haines might be a better linebackers coach than defensive coordinator.  That’s a major statement considering Haines was named the 2025 assistant coach of the year primarily due to his work as the DC. Haines has been with Cignetti since 2014 and has earned the…

Don’t worry, talking season is almost over. The first FBS college football game of the 2026 season kicks off Saturday at Noon ET, and your reigning national champion Indiana Hoosiers start the 2026 season exactly one week later. But until then, there’s a bit more preseason noise to discuss. Here’s where ESPN’s SP+ computer model has the Hoosiers in its final update, along with a look at some power rankings and postseason projections by the network. ——————————————– FINAL SP+ RANKINGS In Bill Connelly’s final churn of the SP+ computer model, Indiana is ranked No. 5 behind No. 1 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. First up is the defensive line. THE COACHES Indiana has continuity with its defensive line coaches. Interior:  Indiana native Pat Kuntz is in his fifth season with Curt Cignetti.  He also spent two years as an IU grad assistant in 2016-17. Outside:  A Cincinnati native, Buddha Williams joined Cignetti’s staff in 2024, coming over from Colorado State. THE MAIN MEN Veterans Tyrique Tucker (6-foot, 305), Mario Landino (6-foot-4, 290)…

After Indiana lost running backs Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby following the 2025 season, snaps at the position are wide open this fall. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg surveyed coaches in every Power 4 conference as well as others from the Group of 6 ranks to identify players set to emerge during the 2026 campaign, and IU football running back Khobie Martin is one of the network’s 51 “sleeper college football players who could break out in the 2026 season.” In fact, Martin is the first player listed. Indiana coach Curt Cignetti typically won’t say much about younger, unproven players, but he’s…

Sam Alexis is not currently eligible to play for IU basketball in 2026-27. In the latest turn of events involving class of 2022 athletes seeking a fifth year of eligibility, The Tennessee Court of Appeals has issued an order staying the injunction granted to plaintiff athletes, including Alexis, pending appeal. The injunction grants a fifth year to Alexis, but the NCAA is appealing.  It’s one of multiple stays of similar injunctions obtained by the NCAA in recent days.  The stay of a federal injunction has also deemed IU football players Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ineligible at the moment until…