Despite an underwhelming defensive performance vs North Texas, No. 5 Indiana is keeping its confidence high heading into Saturday’s matchup vs. Howard.
Indiana’s top defenders know they have to put their Week 1 mistakes behind them quickly and turn their full attention to the Bison.
“Monday we watched film…to make those corrections,” veteran linebacker Rolijah Hardy said Tuesday. “We’ve been hammering those corrections really hard in practice.”
IU’s defense looked uncharacteristically out-of-rhythm in the North Texas game, surrendering 367 yards of total offense — tied for the second-most the Hoosiers allowed in any game in 2025. In addition, the Mean Green possessed the ball for more than 37 minutes, almost 15 minutes more than Indiana.
“Defense had a hard time getting off the field…combination of some critical missed assignments and poor tackling,” head coach Curt Cignetti added Monday. “There’s things we have to do better.”
The tackling issues were particularly noticeable, as Indiana missed 13 total tackles. Needless to say, that will not be acceptable once Big Ten play starts later this month.
Cignetti also offered praise for Howard starting quarterback Ja’Shawn Scroggins, admitting that containing the Bison signal-caller will not be an easy task.
“He’s their leading rusher…a really good athlete. They’ve got good team speed,” Cignetti added Monday. “He’s played a lot for them…a dual (threat) guy.”
Scroggins’ ability to make plays both with his arm and with his legs will present IU’s defense with another challenge. In addition to being their leading rusher, he threw for 315 yards in the Bison’s opening game vs Alabama A&M.
With a game under their belt, the Hoosiers will look to clean up the mistakes that plagued them in their opening day matchup.
For Indiana’s leaders on the defensive side of the ball, they know that accumulating in-game reps is the best way for the unit to improve collectively throughout the early course of the season.
“As you continue to play, you gain chemistry with your brothers,” Hardy added. “The biggest thing is getting better every day…one percent (better).”
Indiana’s matchup with Howard is scheduled for noon Eastern on Saturday, Sept. 12 and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
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