IU will open the 2025 men’s soccer season as the No. 11 team in the nation, and the favorite to win the Big Ten.
No. 11 Indiana, coming off its 10th consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, will host No. 9 Clemson in the premier matchup of men’s college soccer opening night, set for August 21 at 8 p.m. ET.
The two programs have combined for 12 national titles, 32 final fours, 86 NCAA Tournament appearances and 12 MAC Hermann Trophy winners.
Indiana’s nonconference slate also includes home games against traditional powers San Francisco and St. Louis, a trip to Notre Dame, along with an October trip to Kentucky.
At least five of Indiana’s 18 regular season matches will go out to a national audience. Remaining home and conference matches will appear on the B1G+ digital platform.
Fans can watch three Indiana road matches – at Michigan State (Sept. 23), at Washington (Oct. 3) and at Maryland (Oct. 24) – on the Big Ten Network. IU’s home matches versus UCLA (Sept. 26) and Wisconsin (Oct. 21) will also appear on the platform.
After Indiana shared the Big Ten regular season crown each of the last two seasons, the Big Ten coaches have picked the Hoosiers to “three-peat” as the No. 1-ranked team in the conference’s preseason poll, announced on Tuesday.
The conference also announced its Big Ten Players to Watch list, featuring three Hoosiers: senior forward Palmer Ault, junior forward Collins Oduro and sophomore defender Josh Maher.
Ault, a second-round 2025 MLS SuperDraft selection, has recorded 54 points in his career from 21 goals and 12 assists. The senior also featured in the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list, Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Third Team as well as in the Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100, earning the No. 27 selection.
Oduro also returns to college after a draft selection, earning a second-round pick in December. The junior has recorded eight goals and seven assists over two seasons in Bloomington, helping the Hoosiers win three Big Ten Championships.
Maher ranked No. 41 in Top Drawer Soccer’s preseason list after winning unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman honors last season. He became the third Maher brother to earn that first-year distinction.
Colton Swan will hope to follow Maher’s example in his first year, earning a selection to Top Drawer Soccer’s Preseason Best XI Freshman Team. The rookie totaled 34 goals and 14 assists for the Colorado Rapids Academy.
BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
- Indiana
- Maryland
- Ohio State
- UCLA
- Washington
- Michigan
- Michigan State
- Wisconsin
- Rutgers
- Penn State
- Northwestern
PRESEASON HONORS
Palmer Ault
- United Soccer Coaches Forward to Watch
- Big Ten Player to Watch
- Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 (No. 27)
- Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Third Team
Josh Maher
- Big Ten Player to Watch
- Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Top 100 (No. 41)
Collins Oduro
- Big Ten Player to Watch
Colton Swan
- Top Drawer Soccer Preseason Best XI Freshman Team
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