Indiana will be without one of its most important pieces on the offensive line when it faces No. 18 USC on Saturday.
Starting right guard Joe Brunner is out, according to the second Big Ten availability report released Thursday night. Brunner has started all nine games at the spot this season and was not listed on Indiana’s initial report earlier in the week.
If Brunner can’t go, redshirt sophomore Austin Leibfried looks like the next man up. Leibfried has played in every game this season and has also filled a role as a sixth offensive lineman in certain packages. Over his Indiana career, he has appeared in 22 games across three seasons.
The Hoosiers did get a better update on the defensive side. Starting cornerback A.J.
Harris moved from questionable to probable after being listed as questionable on the initial report. Harris has started the last three games.
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover remains off the report heading into Saturday, even after being replaced at halftime in the Hoosiers’ overtime win over Minnesota. Hoover has started all nine games this season, but backup Grant Wilson handled the second half against the Gophers.
“We’ll see how the week plays and we’ll see who we trot out there,” IU coach Curt Cignetti said Monday about Hoover.
Indiana also still has uncertainty at linebacker. Rolijah Hardy remains questionable after not playing against Minnesota because of an injury suffered in pregame warmups. True freshman Jacob Savage stepped in for Hardy and posted four tackles, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup.
The Hoosiers will also be without running back Turbo Richard, who leads the team with 745 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 113 carries. EDGE Kellan Wyatt is out as well and will miss a second straight game after not playing since Indiana’s Week 8 road win at Michigan.
Wilson’s work against Minnesota gave Indiana a boost when it needed it. The seventh-year quarterback went 9-for-17 for 156 yards and a touchdown, and he added four carries for 26 yards. He also helped push the Hoosiers to a tying field goal late in the fourth quarter before connecting with Charlie Becker on a 25-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime.
Indiana and USC kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The game will air on CBS.
USC’s report also came with several names missing. The Trojans list WR Terrell Anderson, WR Corey Simms, SAF Kendarius Roddick, SAF Trestin Castro, LB Taylor “Tabo” Johnson, LB Roman Marchetti, OL Killian O’Connor and OL Hayden Treter as out. TE Walter Matthews is questionable.
In Other News...
Indiana's Playoff Path Just Became A Frustrating Fight For Respect
Curt Cignetti did not hide his frustration with the latest College Football Playoff rankings, and from Indianas perspective the bigger issue is not just where the Hoosiers sit but how the whole exercise seems to be judged. The Indiana coach pointed to what he sees as inconsistencies in the way losses are treated, especially when SEC teams are involved, and his comments land at a time when the Big Ten has plenty of reason to feel the current setup does not reflect what has happened in recent postseason play.
Tony Petitti has already pushed for a 24-team playoff as a way to blunt some of those concerns, but the broader debate keeps circling back to power, perception and who gets the benefit of the doubt. With ESPN carrying the playoff and the SEC tied closely to its media arrangement, the optics are not going away anytime soon, which leaves Indiana in the familiar position of having to make its case on the field while the argument around it keeps getting louder. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Faces Two Huge Problems Before Its Biggest Game Yet
With No. 18 USC coming to Bloomington in a game with major playoff implications for both teams, Indiana is staring at one of its biggest tests of the season at exactly the wrong time to be sorting through issues. Curt Cignetti made it clear the Hoosiers still have work to do on tackling, a concern that becomes even more pressing against an offense that can stretch a defense in a hurry.
The matchup also carries another layer of uncertainty for Indiana, with the starting quarterback job still not fully settled. USC brings a dangerous passing attack led by Jayden Maiava and fueled by Trent Mosley and Mark Bowman, which means Indiana will need answers on both sides of the ball before Saturday turns into a defining night for its postseason hopes. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Playoff Push Suddenly Rides On One Unsettled USC Game
Indianas playoff path has tightened considerably, and Saturdays home game against USC now feels like the kind of matchup that can reshape the rest of the season in a hurry. After Indianas recent slide in the rankings, the margin for error has all but disappeared, which makes this one more than just another Big Ten showcase. It is the sort of game that can either steady the Hoosiers or leave them chasing the bracket from behind.
Josh Hoover is expected to start at quarterback if he is healthy, but Indiana is also managing injuries in the backfield with Turbo Richard and Joe Brunner both banged up. On defense, linebacker Jacob Savage looks set to carry added weight, especially if Rolijah Hardy is limited or unavailable. The uncertainty on both sides of the ball only adds to the stakes, because for Indiana, this is no longer just about beating USC. It is about keeping the playoff picture from slipping further out of reach. [Read more 🡒]