Indiana is climbing fast in the AP Top 25, and the Hoosiers now sit at No. 4 after Sunday’s latest poll release. They also picked up three No. 1 votes.
That jump came on the heels of a dominant 55-0 win over Howard University on Saturday, a result that moved Indiana up one spot from No. 5. Redshirt senior quarterback Josh Hoover and junior wide receiver Charlie Becker hooked up for three touchdowns through the air, while the ground game piled up 296 rushing yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
Indiana’s defense did its part, too. The Hoosiers held Howard to 57 total yards, finished with 12 tackles for loss and added five sacks.
The rise was also shaped by chaos elsewhere near the top of the rankings. Ohio State, which entered Saturday as the No. 1 team, dropped to No. 6 after a 24-23 loss to the University of Texas at Austin. The Buckeyes led 23-3 in the second half before Texas answered with three straight scoring drives to flip the game.
Oregon took a major tumble as well. After falling 39-31 to Oklahoma State University on Saturday afternoon, the Ducks slid 15 spots to No. 21.
There was movement throughout the rest of the poll. USC moved up two places to No. 12 after beating the University of Louisiana at Lafayette 49-30, while Penn State climbed two spots to No. 14 after a 27-9 win over Temple University.
Washington, despite opening 2-0, dropped out of the rankings after a 16-14 win over Utah State University.
Michigan also found its way back into the AP Poll at No. 19.
The Wolverines had been unranked since falling from No. 16 and out of the poll entirely on Sept. 8, but they returned after knocking off then-No. 11 University of Oklahoma 17-10 on Saturday.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Real Opening In The Big Ten Race
Week 2 in the Big Ten brought a little more clarity and a lot more chaos, and Indiana had to like what it saw from the rest of the league. Ohio States collapse after building a strong start against Texas, Oregons second straight stumble after its earlier loss, and Michigans defense holding up against Oklahoma all fed into a race that suddenly feels less tidy than it did a week ago. USC also kept building momentum behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, another reminder that the leagues top tier may be deeper and less predictable than expected.
For Indiana, the value in that disorder is obvious. The Hoosiers do not need the Big Ten to get easy, but they do need the field above them to keep taking turns giving ground, and that is exactly what the opening stretch delivered. With the conference already showing signs of volatility and some of its biggest names still sorting out who they are, Indiana can see a path to mattering in a race that looked more crowded than competitive just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Defensive Rotation Just Put A New Spotlight On Its Depth
Indiana leaned heavily on its defensive depth in the 55-0 win over Howard, and the snap counts told the story just as much as the scoreboard did. The Hoosiers spread the workload across a long list of contributors, with Mario Landino and Chiddi Obiazor standing out among the pressure players and Rolijah Hardy turning in the kind of splash play that can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
What makes the rotation worth watching now is how many different pieces were involved, including freshmen and players still chasing more eligibility. Early in the season, that kind of distribution can be a luxury if everyone stays productive, but it can also become a real evaluation tool as Indiana learns who can hold up once the competition tightens and the game plans get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Waits On Court Fight That Could Cost Two Key Veterans
Indiana football is still waiting on the legal wrangling that could shape the rest of its season, with the eligibility case involving veterans Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ending in court Wednesday without a ruling. The two players are challenging the NCAA over its five-for-five eligibility rule, and the absence of a decision leaves the Hoosiers in a holding pattern as the week moves toward Saturdays game.
The temporary restraining order that had allowed Daley and Wyatt to keep playing has now expired, which means they are ineligible unless the judge acts before the weekend. Attorneys have until Thursday to submit final documentation, but for now Indiana is left watching the calendar as much as the depth chart, hoping the legal process catches up in time to avoid losing two experienced pieces. [Read more 🡒]