IU men’s soccer is set to start the 2026 season this week.
Once again, the Hoosiers are nationally relevant, ranked No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll.
The Big Ten also announced its preseason coaches poll this week, with Indiana landing at No. 3 behind reigning NCAA Champion Washington and defending Big Ten Champion Maryland.
Indiana kicks off its 2026 season Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, hosting Notre Dame at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
The roster features several new faces, as 13 of the 30 players join the program either from the transfer portal or as first-year students.
Head coach Todd Yeagley and his staff brought in the top-ranked transfer class according to Top Drawer Soccer, featuring eight proven producers with NCAA Tournament experience.
They join a solid foundation of 17 returners, including Alex Barger, Charlie Heuer, Josh Maher and Collins Oduro – each having at least two seasons of experience with the program. Barger and Maher will serve as captains for this team.
Four players received preseason praise this week, as the Big Ten announced its Players to Watch list, and Top Drawer Soccer unveiled its preseason Top 100 player rankings.
Transfer forward Stephane Njike along with Maher and Oduro were featured in the Big Ten watch list.
Njike ranked No. 6 on the Top Drawer Soccer Top-100 list a day after seeing his name in the Top Drawer Soccer first-team Best XI. Oduro came in at No. 57, an improvement from his 2025 postseason ranking by 27 places (No. 84). Transfer forward Oliver Moller-Jensen ranked No. 85.
For more on the 2026 schedule, GO HERE:
2026 Big Ten Men’s Soccer Preseason Poll
1. Washington
2. Maryland
3. Indiana
4. UCLA
5. Michigan
6. Ohio State
7. Rutgers
8. Northwestern
9. Wisconsin
10. Michigan State
11. Penn State
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