Indiana’s November 14 date with USC already looks like one of the more demanding games on the schedule, and Week 0 gave a pretty clear reminder why. The Trojans opened with a 42-26 win over San Jose State after building a 28-0 halftime cushion, then letting the game loosen up a bit in the second half.
For Indiana, the headline names are already starting to come into focus. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava, wideout Trent Mosley and defensive tackle Jide Abasiri all turned in performances that should be on the Hoosiers’ radar long before the trip to Bloomington.
Maiava came out looking every bit like the player who led the Big Ten with 3,711 passing yards last season and entered the 2026 campaign among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. He was sharp from the start, connecting on 25 of 29 passes for 286 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. The opponent was a shaky San Jose State pass defense, but Maiava still did exactly what Lincoln Riley wants from a quarterback: efficient, controlled and in command without pressing.
That’s the version Indiana has to prepare for. Quarterbacks in Riley’s system tend to pile up numbers, and Maiava already looks set up for another big season.
Mosley might have been the most eye-catching player of the bunch. The 4-star true freshman wasted no time making his presence felt, finishing with seven catches for 118 yards and a touchdown. In the process, he became just the second true freshman wide receiver in USC history to top 100 yards in his first career game.
With Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane now off to the NFL, there was an obvious question hanging over USC’s offense: who becomes Maiava’s go-to target in 2026? Early signs point to Mosley.
At 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, he showed off the speed that comes with a 4.41 40-yard dash and repeatedly turned catches into extra yards. When USC comes to Bloomington, that’s the kind of receiver Indiana will need a plan for.
On the other side of the ball, Abasiri made the strongest case to be the Trojan defender worth tracking. The junior defensive tackle led USC with four tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss, accounting for half of the team’s five tackles behind the line. It was a strong opener and a hint that he could be ready for a bigger role up front this season.
Abasiri has mostly worked as a rotational piece over the past two years. He played in all 13 games last season and posted 26 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Now he’s trying to take another step in 2026, and Week 0 was a good place to start.
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Indiana Fans Finally Have The Full NFL Roster Cut Picture
Indianas run through the 2026 NFL Draft already made school history, but the picture got even clearer after preseason cutdowns. Eighteen former Hoosiers made their teams initial 53-man rosters, adding another layer to a year in which the program set a record with eight players drafted and saw Fernando Mendoza and Omar Cooper Jr. become the first Indiana teammates taken in the first round of the same draft.
The final roster math also gave a better sense of just how deep this group really was, even as several other former Hoosiers were waived or released and now wait to see whether a practice-squad opportunity or another chance comes next. For Indiana fans, it is the kind of NFL inventory that speaks to where the program has gone under the spotlight and how much more of its 2026 class still has a path to carve out on Sundays. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Players Reveal What Makes Curt Cignetti Feel Different
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What stood out most was the way the players described Cignetti himself, not just as a practice field taskmaster but as someone whose personality and routines have shaped the room in a different way. They also traded stories that gave the discussion some texture, including Nick Marshs gold cleats during spring camp, plus bits about golfing and fishing, the sort of side-door details that make a coach feel more human and a team culture feel more real. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas NFL Rise Just Showed Up In Final Roster Cuts
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There is still some movement to watch, though. Nine other former Hoosiers were waived or released and could surface again on practice squads or elsewhere as teams continue sorting out the back end of their rosters, which means Indianas NFL footprint is likely to keep shifting even after the cutdown deadline. [Read more 🡒]