In at least one way, Indiana came in second in 2025.
At 77.2 rushing yards allowed per game, the Hoosiers finished in the No. 2 spot nationally behind Texas Tech.
That’s a fact defensive coordinator Bryant Haines is well aware of.
“We were second in the country in stopping the run,” Haines said on BTN last week. “Let’s go ahead and get that number one spot.”
As good as Indiana was defensively in their undefeated 2025 national championship season, it’s not unreasonable to believe they might actually be better on that side of the ball this year.
And competition for playing time could end up being a major reason why. Especially at the defensive end positions.
Haines was asked how the late cycle additions of Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt to the defensive front might impact the other players on the team who had a certain expectation for playing time and are now competing for snaps with them. IU has at least three starter-caliber players at both edge positions, and whoever earns the lion’s share of the action will certainly have earned it.
“I think I’m just going to let them compete their tails off. That was my message to them,” Haines said. I said ‘This is a plethora of good guys we can utilize in different ways. I urge you to be versatile, and when your number is called to make a play and you get your one-on-one, take advantage of it and you’ll get more of them.’ I’m going to let those guys compete. There are a lot of playmakers on that defensive front, and they’re all going to have a chance to make some money and get some sacks.”
Haines believes it’s that depth and athleticism on his front line that makes improvement in 2026 on an already very high bar possible.
“That’s the key to the drill for us in how we run our defense,” Haines said. “We believe in winning up front and letting those guys play really fast, physical and vertical. Having versatile, twitchy, sudden, violent guys up front, makes the entire defense run.”
In addition to edge starters in the base defense, Haines says the staff is still evaluating competition for snaps in his various personnel groupings and short yardage defense. Some of those edge defenders might see the field when Indiana goes with a third linebacker. Haines isn’t afraid to emphasize schemes more often to ensure his best 11 players are on the field.
Haines also mentioned the competition at boundary cornerback involving A.J. Harris and Ryland Gandy as one that has his attention. Head coach Curt Cignetti mentioned that earlier in fall camp as well.
For more on Indiana’s defensive line depth:
BTN analyst says IU football defensive line in discussion for league’s best in 20 years
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