Indiana heads into its Week 2 meeting with Howard already juggling the fallout from a rough opening game. A handful of Hoosiers were knocked out against North Texas, and that means Curt Cignetti is again working through lineup tweaks before Saturday’s noon kickoff on September 12.
The biggest loss is at running back, where redshirt sophomore Khobie Martin is out after breaking his forearm in the first quarter of the opener. Martin never got a rushing attempt before the injury hit, a brutal break for a player who came into 2026 on breakout watch after posting 505 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. Cignetti said Martin is expected to miss time until around midseason, so Indiana’s backfield picture shifts quickly from there.
That leaves Boston College transfer Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. to carry the load. Richard appears lined up as the starter, while Beebe is in position for a much bigger workload. Beebe didn’t do much with his first chances against North Texas, finishing with 14 carries for 2.9 yards per attempt, but this matchup with Howard gives him a clean shot to build some trust and settle into a larger role.
The Hoosiers are also waiting on a pair of cornerbacks. AJ Harris, who arrived from Penn State after earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition last season, left the opener in the first quarter with an undisclosed injury and did not return. Cignetti has called him day-to-day, so he goes into Saturday as a game-time decision.
If Harris can’t go, Ryland Gandy is the next man up. He spent fall camp in a tight battle with Harris for the starting job, and although Harris won that competition, Gandy brings real depth. He played in all 16 games last season, which gives Indiana a familiar option if the secondary needs help.
Jamari Sharpe is in the same boat. Indiana’s other starting corner also went down early against North Texas and was unable to finish the game, but his injury is not considered serious. He, too, is day-to-day and will be a game-time decision against Howard.
Jaylen Bell is the likely fill-in if Sharpe is limited or unavailable. The second-year defensive back doesn’t have a long résumé, but he handled himself well when called on in the opener, playing 55 of Indiana’s 71 defensive snaps and finishing with 4.0 tackles, including 3 solo. If Sharpe sits, Bell should be in line for another meaningful workload.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Kicker Question It Didnt Expect
Indianas kicking situation took an unexpected turn against Howard when Nico Radicic was ruled out because of back pain that started Thursday, according to the broadcast. With the Hoosiers suddenly needing a replacement, Paddy McAteer stepped into the role and handled the extra-point duties in his place.
McAteers night had a little of everything, missing an early PAT before later settling in and converting one. For Indiana, the bigger issue now is less about a single kick than how long it might have to manage without Radicic, with no clear return timeline yet available. [Read more 🡒]
Lee Corso Update Will Hit Florida State Fans Right In The Heart
Lee Corsos public appearances have become rare since he retired after the 2025 season, but a recent reunion with Kirk Herbstreit in Orlando offered a familiar reminder of why he remains such a beloved figure in college football. Herbstreit described the physical ailments Corso is dealing with at 91, while also emphasizing that the longtime College GameDay analyst is still sharp and fully engaged when the conversation turns to the sport he helped shape.
For Florida State fans, any Corso update carries its own weight, given how closely his voice has been tied to the broader history of college football Saturdays. Even after the final headgear pick in Columbus closed the book on his on-air run, Corsos presence still resonates, especially because he continues to stay mentally connected to the game despite a past stroke and the challenges that have limited his outings. [Read more 🡒]
Charlie Becker Is Becoming A Huge Factor In Indianas Title Push
Charlie Becker has quickly moved from promising receiver to one of the early reasons Indianas offense looks so dangerous again. The junior has opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion, finding the end zone multiple times in the first two games and giving the Hoosiers another reliable weapon as they chase a second straight Big Ten title.
Against Howard, Becker did most of his damage before halftime, catching three touchdown passes in the first half and putting his name squarely in the middle of Indianas title conversation. For a team trying to defend its place atop the league, having another playmaker emerging this fast only raises the ceiling, and it is starting to look like Becker will be hard to ignore as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]