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    Staff picks: Game-by-game predictions for the 2026 IU football season

    TDH StaffBy IU Football No Comments
    The IU student section at Memorial Stadium waves its rally towels ahead of Indiana's win over Michigan. (Photo by Seth Tow for TDH)

    16-0 is impossible to top.

    But can the Hoosiers match their historic achievement in 2026?

    Below are our predictions for the 2026 IU football season:

    MIKE SCHUMANN (11-1)

    Let’s be clear:  Indiana could go 12-0 again.  And they could go 9-3.  It’s a funny game where a couple plays don’t go your way, and things snowball.  See: at Ohio State and Notre Dame, 2024.  IU’s coaching staff effectively emphasizes the avoidance of mistakes, and the players execute on that standard like no other.  But it’s worth keeping in mind — every other team in the nation lost at least twice last season.  IU is bound to slip up a time or two.  But they are right there among the nation’s best again in 2026.

    Sept. 5 – vs. North Texas:  W 42-7
    Sept. 12 – vs. Howard:  W 70-0
    Sept. 19 – vs. Western Kentucky:  W 52-13
    Sept. 25 – vs. Northwestern: W 34-10
    Oct. 3 – at Rutgers:  W 48-10
    Oct. 10 – at Nebraska: W 34-21
    Oct. 17 – vs. Ohio State:  W 20-17
    Oct. 24 –  at Michigan:  L 24-21
    Oct. 31 –  vs. Minnesota:  W 38-10
    Nov. 14 – vs. USC:  W 45-20
    Nov. 21 – at Washington:  W 28-20
    Nov. 28 – vs. Purdue:  W 52-9

    SETH TOW (11-1)

    Indiana is going to be really, really good this year. One of the best teams in the country. But no team has had two consecutive undefeated seasons since Nebraska in 1994-95. As good as the Hoosiers were in their magical 16-0 campaign, they had a lot of good fortune along the way. At some point, the ball will bounce the other way, the whistle will go against them, they’ll have an injury they can’t overcome, or something along those lines. This IU team is good enough to beat anyone in the country, but there are several other teams who are also good enough to beat anyone in the country, including Indiana.
    Sept. 5 – vs. North Texas:  W 30-6
    Sept. 12 – vs. Howard:  W 70-0
    Sept. 19 – vs. Western Kentucky: W 51-14
    Sept. 25 – vs. Northwestern: W 49-17
    Oct. 3 – at Rutgers: W 55-21
    Oct. 10 – at Nebraska: W 30-17
    Oct. 17 – vs. Ohio State: L 21-20
    Oct. 24 –  at Michigan: W 35-10
    Oct. 31 –  vs. Minnesota: W 58-10
    Nov. 14 – vs. USC: W 41-17
    Nov. 21 – at Washington: W 38-18
    Nov. 28 – vs. Purdue: W 67-3
    JACK RIZZO (12-0)
    Achieving a second consecutive perfect regular season will certainly be easier said than done for Indiana. The Hoosiers will be battle tested in both October and November, with four ranked matchups across a six-week period. Not to mention, a road matchup against Nebraska on Oct. 10 has the vibe of a trap game for IU. The keys to winning these ranked Big Ten matchups will be winning the turnover battle. Can Josh Hoover make smart decisions with the football in late game situations?

    Sept. 5 – vs. North Texas: W 51-10
    Sept. 12 – vs. Howard: W 70-3
    Sept. 19 – vs. Western Kentucky: W 48-14
    Sept. 25 – vs. Northwestern: W 41-17
    Oct. 3 – at Rutgers: W 34-6
    Oct. 10 – at Nebraska: W 34-24
    Oct. 17 – vs Ohio State: W 20-17
    Oct. 24 – at Michigan: W 27-21
    Oct. 31 – vs. Minnesota: W 45-17
    Nov. 14 – vs. USC: W 42-28
    Nov. 21 – at Washington: W 31-24
    Nov. 28 – vs. Purdue: W 52-10

    For complete coverage of IU football, GO HERE.

    The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”

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