Indiana football is going to have to adjust its non-conference schedule, and the change starts with the 2027 season.
As part of the Big Ten’s negotiations with the SEC to push the playoff field from 12 teams to 24, conference teams will now need to line up at least one power conference opponent in the non-conference. The SEC had already been operating with that requirement, and the new playoff format became official on Monday.
Indiana’s current non-conference slate, which is set through the 2030 season, does not include a power conference opponent, so the Hoosiers will need to make a move. Per reporting from the Athletic, they are already working on finding one for 2027.
So who should it be? A few options stand out.
Kentucky is the obvious one, and probably the choice that would make the most sense to Indiana fans. The Hoosiers and Wildcats have a long football history, including the Bourbon Barrel trophy, with the series dating back to 1893.
Their last meeting came in 2005, when Indiana won 38-14 in Bloomington. Indiana holds a narrow edge all-time at 18-17-1, and there’s another wrinkle here: the Hoosiers beat current Kentucky head coach Will Stein’s offense twice in 2025 when he was at Oregon.
The catch is that Kentucky already has Louisville on its schedule as a power conference rival, so getting the Wildcats to agree could be difficult. If they do, Indiana would almost certainly take it.
Tennessee would bring a different kind of appeal. The connection here runs through the 2020 Gator Bowl, the game that came right before what might have been Indiana’s best chance to snap a long bowl drought.
Instead, the Volunteers rallied late, scoring 14 points in the fourth quarter to steal the lead and leave the Hoosiers empty-handed. Josh Heupel has since stabilized the program in Knoxville, and a matchup would give Indiana a shot to visit one of college football’s great stadiums while also bringing a marquee SEC opponent to Bloomington.
Kansas also fits the moment. Both schools have poured money into football in recent years and hired coaches who made their names at lower levels, all while carrying much bigger reputations on the hardwood than on the gridiron.
Indiana has gotten the better of that investment so far, while Kansas has struggled lately. Even so, there’s still reason to believe Lance Leipold can turn things around, and the Jayhawks’ new stadium would benefit from a strong product.
Oklahoma is a little less about history and more about the eye test. Both schools wear cream and crimson, and the shades are close enough to make the pairing feel natural. The Sooners have been solid under Brent Venables, reached the 12-team playoff field in 2025, and nearly matched up with Indiana before falling at home.
Louisville also makes plenty of sense, especially with the baggage already attached. The football series was cut short after just one game, a Louisville win at Lucas Oil Stadium in 2023 that helped lead into Indiana’s losing season and eventually the hiring of Curt Cignetti.
With power conference games now required, the Cardinals would bring an old opponent back into the picture. Jeff Brohm is there now, and his Purdue teams gave Tom Allen’s Indiana squads plenty of trouble.
Add in the geography, and the case gets even stronger.
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Indiana Just Landed A Guard Hoosier Fans Will Want To Watch
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Branham also arrives with some historical context attached, since he is now the 10th-highest ranked recruit Indiana has landed in the 247Sports era. In the schools official release, coach Darian DeVries highlighted both Branhams ability and his character, which is usually the kind of combination a staff hopes will translate well once the real work begins and the recruiting buzz gives way to what he can actually do in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
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For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
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Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]