Indiana opened the 2026 season with a 52-16 win over North Texas, and six true freshmen got their first taste of college football in the rout.
The first-year Hoosiers to see the field were offensive linemen Ben Novak and Sam Simpson, along with linebackers Henry Ohlinger and Jacob Savage, defensive lineman Cam McHaney, and defensive back Jamar Owens.
McHaney ended up leading the group in snaps, logging 22 in a somewhat surprising debut. The Indianapolis native, who spent his final two prep seasons at IMG Academy in Florida, also picked up the first tackle of his career against the Mean Green.
Savage was the most productive freshman on the stat sheet, finishing with three tackles for Indiana.
Ohlinger played nine defensive snaps in his first game for the Hoosiers and recorded the first tackle of his college career. Owens saw just one snap on defense, but his appearance still stood out as he became the first high school defensive back from the 2026 class to get game action.
Novak and Simpson each got one snap, both coming when Indiana’s second-team offensive line entered on the final offensive possession. That drive ended with the backup quarterback scoring on a 43-yard touchdown on the first play of the series.
The rest of Indiana’s 2026 freshman class is still waiting for its first action. The players yet to play are RB Jayreon Campbell, TE Parker Elmore, TE Trevor Gibbs, DB Kasmir Hicks, DL Gabe Hill, DE Kevontay Hugan, DE Ronelle Johnson, WR Lavar Keys, TE PJ MacFarlane, OL Kenton Mondeau, WR Kortez Rupert, OL CJ Scifres, DL Blake Smythe, DB D'Montae Tims, DL Rodney White, and LB Ja'Dyn Williams.
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What lingers for Jackson-Davis now is less about leaving early than about one skill he never fully unlocked. He said he wishes he had developed his three-point shot more in college, a notable regret considering how little he used it across his Indiana career. It is the kind of hindsight that comes with time, especially for a player who did so much right for the Hoosiers, but it also leaves open the question of how much more versatile his game might have looked if he had stayed just a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
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Indiana is trying to set up an official visit for Clark as it looks to turn that early interest into something more concrete. The Hoosiers currently have one commitment in the 2028 class, so landing a player of Clarks caliber would be another major statement after the programs strong 2027 recruiting push and a reminder that Cignetti is not slowing down on the trail. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Reached A Huge Recruiting Moment With Elite WR Prospect
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Ohio State sits near the front of the pack in Rivals insider predictions, but the race still appears wide open enough to keep several SEC and ACC programs firmly in the mix. For programs tracking the receiver board far beyond their own borders, the next stretch of Clarks recruitment figures to be all about separation, relationships, and which staff can stay in striking distance as the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]