Curt Cignetti isn’t tipping his hand on Indiana’s quarterback situation, and that leaves Saturday’s matchup with Southern Cal a little more interesting than usual.
The Hoosiers’ coach said Monday he has not decided whether Josh Hoover or Grant Wilson will get the start when No. 4 Indiana (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) returns from its off week. Cignetti kept the answer vague after the game as well, and he stayed that way in his weekly news conference.
"We’ll see how the week plays out and we’ll see who we trot out there," Cignetti said.
Hoover has been dealing with an upper body injury he suffered on Oct. 19 against Ohio State, and his play has dipped since then. In Indiana’s wins over Michigan and Minnesota, he struggled to find a rhythm. Over the last four games, he has completed only 48.5% of his passes and turned the ball over three times.
That stretch has mirrored a broader slide for an offense that looked far more dangerous earlier in the season. Indiana has averaged 17.8 points per game over its last four outings, hit on just 28.3% of its third-down chances and managed four touchdowns on 11 red-zone trips.
Wilson gave the Hoosiers a jolt against Minnesota, leading an overtime comeback after stepping in for Hoover. He threw for 156 yards and a touchdown in the win, and it was only his third game with multiple pass attempts since 2024. Wilson has also started games at Fordham and Old Dominion.
Whoever gets the nod will have a chance to help Indiana get its offense moving again against a Southern Cal team with plenty on the line of its own. The No.
20 Trojans are 7-2 overall and 5-1 in the Big Ten, and they still have playoff hopes. A win over Indiana, followed by a victory against No.
8 UCLA in their regular season finale, would keep that path alive.
In Other News...
Indiana Faces A Huge USC Test With National Respect On The Line
Indiana gets another chance to prove its rise is for real when USC comes to Memorial Stadium for a top-20 matchup in Bloomington. The Hoosiers are sitting at No. 4 with an 8-1 record, and the Trojans arrive ranked No. 20 at 7-2, giving this one the kind of national-stage feel Indiana has spent all season trying to earn.
It is also the first meeting since USC joined the Big Ten, which adds a little extra intrigue to a game that already has plenty riding on it. The betting line has Indiana favored by about a touchdown, but rankings and odds only matter so much when a program is trying to protect its place in the national conversation and keep building momentum in November. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces An Early Test Against A Team That Keeps Pushing Back
Indianas first real measuring-stick game of the season arrives quickly, with Syracuse bringing a 2-0 record into Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis for a matchup that should tell a lot about both teams. The Orange are already under the direction of first-year coach Gerry McNamara, a familiar name in Syracuse circles after a decorated playing career there and a run of school records that still hangs over the program.
For Indiana, the challenge is less about the venue than the style of opponent. Syracuse has already shown it can keep games moving in its direction early in the year, and the historical backdrop between these programs only adds a little more edge to a nonconference meeting that has enough intrigue to feel bigger than a routine November date. The Hoosiers get a chance to answer some early questions, while Syracuse gets another shot to show McNamaras version of the Orange can travel and compete with a high-major team on a neutral floor. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Just Gave Indiana A Huge New Big Ten Opening
Ohio States slide in the AP Top 25 has created a fresh opening in the Big Ten race, and Indiana has every reason to pay attention. The Buckeyes landed at No. 21 after their third loss of the season, their lowest ranking since 2014, a drop that reflects how much ground they have lost in a conference picture they once seemed to control.
For Indiana, the bigger takeaway is what this does to the leagues path to the College Football Playoff. Ohio States hopes now appear to hinge on winning the Big Ten Championship, and even then the Buckeyes no longer control their own fate. It is a notable shift for a program that has been a regular playoff presence under Ryan Day, and it opens the door a little wider for everyone else in the conference. [Read more 🡒]