Indiana’s opener against North Texas ended the way most people expected it to - with a win that never really felt in doubt. But if Week 1 told us anything, it’s that the Hoosiers have some work to do in the run game before Howard comes to town in Week 2.
The biggest issue was impossible to miss. Indiana was outrushed 152-134, and that came against a North Texas front that had almost no continuity up front under a new coaching staff. The final number looks even less flattering when you strip away Grant Wilson’s 43-yard garbage-time touchdown run, which helped push IU to 134 rushing yards.
Indiana’s backfield duo of Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. combined for 29 carries and 91 yards. That 3.1 yards per carry from the running backs is a long way from the 5.2 yards per carry Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black delivered last season as the engine of the offense. Khobie Martin’s eventual return could help, but it doesn’t change the fact that Indiana’s offensive line didn’t create much room in a matchup that should have been favorable.
The problems weren’t limited to offense. IU’s defense also had its roughest day against the run since the 2025 opener against Old Dominion. That day, the Hoosiers gave up 218 rushing yards, then didn’t allow more than 117 in any game the rest of the undefeated season.
Indiana still won the rushing battle in that 2025 opener because it piled up 309 yards on the ground. The only time the Hoosiers were out-rushed last season came in the tight win at Penn State, when the Nittany Lions held a 117-108 edge.
That’s what made the North Texas result stand out even more. Indiana getting out-rushed by 18 yards in the 2026 opener was the program’s worst rushing-yardage gap in a game since the Playoff loss at Notre Dame. Not exactly the kind of company the Hoosiers want to keep.
Curt Cignetti wasn’t ready to turn the performance into a crisis, though. He said the running game Saturday was "fine ... based on the way we were being played." Cignetti also noted that North Texas loaded up against the run, which opened the door for Josh Hoover to find single coverage.
There were still a few encouraging signs on the Indiana side. Richard ran for 58 yards, and 47 of those came after first contact.
He also showed off the kind of finish that fits his nickname after transferring in from Boston College. He had a long touchdown run wiped out by what looked like a borderline holding call, but even with limited space, he kept generating extra yards.
Indiana doesn’t need a wholesale offensive reboot, but it does need some sharper answers. The adjustments could come in the form of play-calling tweaks designed to get the backs moving downhill more often. That’s the sort of thing this staff has handled well before.
Under Cignetti, IU hasn’t gone back-to-back games without topping 120 rushing yards. It also hasn’t lost the rushing battle in consecutive games since the 2024 Michigan-Ohio State stretch.
That gives Indiana plenty of time to clean things up, and Howard looks like a reasonable place to start. But if the Hoosiers’ offensive and defensive lines don’t begin setting the tone in the run game soon, it will be worth paying attention.
And yes, maybe even sounding the alarms.
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
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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 🡒]