Indiana got the kind of injury update it wanted on quarterback Josh Hoover heading into Saturday’s game against USC.
Hoover, who left the Ohio State game with an upper body injury, was not on the Hoosiers’ initial availability report when the Big Ten released it Wednesday night. Barring a setback, that puts him on track to be available against the Trojans.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti still wouldn’t commit to a starter for the weekend, but Hoover will be in uniform as long as he stays off the report. Before the off week, backup Grant Wilson handled the second half and guided Indiana to a 23-16 overtime comeback win over Minnesota after replacing Hoover.
The No. 9 Hoosiers (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) enter a critical matchup with No.
18 USC (7-2, 4-2) carrying a few other injury concerns. Leading rusher Turbo Richard and defensive end Kellan Wyatt have already been ruled out for Saturday.
Richard was shaken up in the second half against Minnesota, then returned on special teams. Through nine games, the Boston College transfer leads Indiana with 745 rushing yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry, and has six rushing touchdowns.
The Hoosiers have already had to manage injuries at running back for much of the season. Khobie Martin missed half the year with an arm injury and returned against the Gophers, though he has only three carries for seven yards this season.
Indiana also listed cornerback A.J. Harris and linebacker Rolijah Hardy as questionable. Hardy was a late scratch against Minnesota because of a back injury, while Harris limped off in the second half.
Harris had missed time earlier in the season with a knee injury, but had settled back into the starting lineup and played well. If he can’t go, Jaylen Bell would likely step in again after filling that role earlier in the year.
Savage, a first-year freshman, started in Hardy’s place against Minnesota and held up well. His role had grown in recent weeks whenever Indiana shifted into a 4-3 defense, and against the Gophers he logged two quarterback pressures, four stops and a career-high 60 snaps.
In Other News...
Indianas Quarterback Uncertainty Just Got Bigger Before USC
Indianas quarterback situation got a little murkier this week as Curt Cignetti sorted through a room already under scrutiny ahead of USC. Grant Wilson missed practice because of the flu, while Josh Hoover was held out for injury recovery, leaving the Hoosiers to lean more heavily on backup Jacob Bell, who drew praise from Cignetti for the way he handled his work on the field.
The timing is less than ideal with USC looming, especially with Cignetti already pointing to the Trojans offense and defense as a major test. Indiana also has some cleanup to do in other areas, including special teams, which adds another layer to a week that was already going to be about finding answers before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Just Reignited Indianas CFP Respect Debate
Indianas place in the College Football Playoff conversation took another public hit this week when Urban Meyer weighed in on the rankings, and the former coach did not exactly defend the Hoosiers standing. On FOX, Meyer pointed out that Indiana slid from No. 4 to No. 9 even without playing in Week 10, using the drop as evidence that the committee may have overvalued the Hoosiers early on.
The larger debate around Indiana has only grown louder as Notre Dame and UCLA moved up in the rankings and the Big Ten and Big 12 continue to jockey for playoff representation. Meyers comments fed right into the skepticism around Indianas rsum, with unimpressive wins and a shaky strength of schedule becoming the central sticking points in how the Hoosiers are being judged. [Read more 🡒]
USC Defender Just Made Indianas Offensive Threat Impossible To Ignore
Chasen Johnson has been one of the steadier pieces in USCs secondary this season, getting on the stat sheet with tackles, pass breakups and a fumble recovery through eight games. Now the redshirt sophomore cornerback is part of the group tasked with slowing down a No. 9 Indiana team that has made life difficult for opponents with a balanced offense, two top wide receivers and a running game that can punish mistakes.
Johnson said the Trojans have leaned on preparation and camaraderie as they try to steady themselves after recent losses, and he pointed to the support he has received from the cornerbacks coach as part of his growth. For USC, the challenge is obvious: Indianas offensive threats are hard to ignore, and the Trojans will need their young defender to keep building on the progress he has already shown. [Read more 🡒]