With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2025.
Indiana football will open its 2025 campaign at home against Old Dominion. The Hoosiers will have plenty of hype entering this contest coming off their historic 2024 season in Curt Cignetti’s first year with the program. And they should have a pretty soft landing for the new year in a Monarchs team that hasn’t finished with a winning record since 2016.
- Opponent: Old Dominion
- Date/Time/TV: Saturday, August 30, 2:30 p.m.
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
- 2024 record/postseason result: 5-7, 4-4 Sun Belt
Returning production, offense: 44 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (97th in the country)
Offensive outlook: Old Dominion featured a potent rushing offense last year, ranking 14th in the nation with 209.8 rush yards per game as a team. The passing offense was less stellar, ranking 103rd in the country at 192.9 yards per game. In all, the Monarchs finished 54th in total offense at 402.7 yards per game.
Redshirt sophomore Colton Joseph returns as ODU’s primary quarterback, posing a real threat on the ground. He completed 59.9 percent of his pass attempts and threw for 1,627 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions last year, but he rushed for 647 yards on 114 attempts with 11 touchdowns.
The Monarchs lost their top running back from last year, Aaron Young, to graduation. They’re relying on a group of backs behind him to pick up the slack. Senior Bryce Duke was a candidate for that sort of role, but he entered the transfer portal after spring ball. So redshirt sophomore Devin Roche, who rushed for 6.4 yards per carry in limited action last season, could be in line for a sizable workload.
ODU’s receiving corps will have some new faces this year, as five of its top six receivers from last season are gone. Head coach Ricky Rahne brought in four junior college transfers at receiver to try and fill the voids.
Old Dominion has a lot of continuity on offensive line, with three main starters back and one more who started the last four games of the season.
Returning production, defense: 54 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (69th in the country)
Defensive outlook: The Monarchs struggled defensively last season, ranking outside of the top 100 in the country in total defense and passing defense. Their rushing defense barely escaped the same fate, finishing 97th.
ODU has five returning starters on defense, including all three starting linebackers. Junior linebacker Mario Thompson recorded 9.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season, and junior Koa Naotala led the team in tackling last year. Defensive end Kris Trinidad also returns after posting 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks last season.
One new face for the Monarchs will have some familiarity with Bloomington: cornerback Botros Alisandro transferred to ODU from Purdue this offseason. Kansas State transfer Nickendre Stiger also figures to step into a big role in the secondary.
Special teams outlook: ODU brought in Riley Callaghan from Southeastern Louisiana to handle placekicking this year. Callaghan went 17 for 22 on field goals last season with a long of 46 yards. Redshirt sophomore Ian Brandt steps into the starting punting job this year after serving as the backup in 2024. Roche was ODU’s main kick returner last year, but didn’t provide any major sparks.
Overall Outlook: ODU’s spread look could be a nice early test for Indiana’s defense in some moments. But this isn’t a game IU should have any real trouble with. For the Monarchs, a bowl game appearance could be feasible this year if the defense improves.
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