Indiana heads to Piscataway in Week 5 with a chance to move to 5-0, but the trip to Rutgers comes with a different kind of pressure than the first four games. Curt Cignetti’s team breezed through North Texas, Howard and Western Kentucky, then got pushed hard in its Big Ten opener against Northwestern last Friday. Indiana was favored by three touchdowns and still had to grind out a six-point win.
That kind of scare changes the conversation fast. On paper, Rutgers sits at 1-3 and Indiana should be able to handle business. But the Hoosiers are dealing with injuries, especially in the backfield, and that means a few key players have to carry a bigger load if Indiana wants to leave with another win.
Josh Hoover is the first name on that list. As the starting quarterback, he’s already central to everything Indiana does, but this week his role may expand even more.
The Hoosiers’ running back room is a mess right now: Khobie Martin is out, Lee Beebe Jr. and Sean Cuono are questionable, and Turbo Richard is probable while coming off a high ankle sprain. With so many uncertainties around the ground game, Hoover may be asked to lean on the passing attack even more than usual.
He’s handled his business so far. Hoover has completed 56 of 80 passes for 850 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he hasn’t thrown an interception yet. He also hasn’t had to throw 30 or more times in a game, but that could easily change against Rutgers.
If Indiana is going to go pass-heavy, Carter Smith becomes just as important. The left tackle has been one of the best offensive linemen in college football over the last few seasons, and ESPN ranked him No. 10 overall in its preseason player rankings heading into the 2026 campaign. His job is straightforward and huge: keep Hoover clean on the blind side and give him time to work through his reads.
Smith matters in the run game too. Even with the injuries, Indiana still wants some balance.
Curt Cignetti’s teams have thrived on complimentary football, and the Hoosiers will still want to get something going on the ground. That starts with Smith and the rest of the offensive line winning at the point of attack.
On the other side of the ball, Jamari Sharpe has one of the toughest assignments of the night. Rutgers’ offense is not a major threat overall, but wide receiver KJ Duff is a problem.
At 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, Duff brings a rare size advantage and has been one of the top receivers in the country through four games. He ranks fourth nationally with 550 receiving yards and is tied for the NCAA lead with seven touchdowns.
Sharpe looks like the most likely Indiana corner to draw that matchup. He started the season as the Hoosiers’ top cornerback, missed time with an undisclosed injury, and returned last week against Northwestern.
Even so, Indiana probably won’t ask him to handle Duff alone. Jaylen Bell, Byron Baldwin Jr., Preston Zachman and Amare Ferrell may all have to help keep eyes on Rutgers’ biggest weapon.
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