Indiana didn’t leave much doubt in its opener, and now the Hoosiers get a matchup that figures to be even more lopsided. After rolling past North Texas 52-16 and climbing one spot to No. 5 in the AP Top 25, Indiana returns home this weekend to face Howard as a massive 55.5-point favorite.
That number alone tells you what kind of game this is expected to be. Indiana is almost certain to move to 2-0, but there are still a few things worth watching as the Hoosiers take on the Bison.
The biggest one starts at quarterback. Josh Hoover was sharp in his Indiana debut, completing 13 of 16 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns.
The question now is whether he can keep that same level going against Howard. The odds say he can, especially with Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh on the outside giving him more chances to settle in and keep building timing with the offense.
He may not need another stat line like Week 1 if Indiana gets out in front early, but another clean, efficient outing would only strengthen his grip on the job.
Health is another obvious concern. Indiana came out of the North Texas game with both starting cornerbacks gone by the end of the first quarter, and the Hoosiers would love nothing more than a clean afternoon this week.
Hoover took a beating and finished the opener battered and bloody, though he appears to be fine heading into Saturday. If Indiana opens up a big lead, the coaching staff should have a chance to work some reserves into the game, which would be the smart play with Week 3 in mind.
Special teams also gave Indiana a real spark in the opener, and there’s reason to expect more of the same. Lee Beebe Jr. ripped off a 67-yard kickoff return right away, Turbo Richard later added a 41-yard kickoff return, and Tyler Morris turned in punt returns of 36 and 39 yards.
Nico Radicic was perfect too, hitting all seven extra points and drilling a career-long 49-yard field goal. Against a Howard team that will be outmatched, Indiana should have another chance to create field position and turn speed into splash plays.
The spread is so huge that it almost becomes its own storyline. Indiana is laying 55.5 points, one of the biggest numbers on the board this weekend, behind only Miami’s 56.5-point spread over Florida A&M.
At that level, it’s usually wise to keep your distance. Still, Cignetti’s team handled several blowouts in that neighborhood last year, and this group has already shown it can pile up points in a hurry.
And then there’s the simplest question of all: will Curt Cignetti crack a smile? Probably not.
He’s all business on game day, and even if Indiana is cruising, he’s not likely to be caught grinning on the sideline. A rare smile might show up after the final whistle or in a postgame setting, but while the clock is running, Cignetti stays stone-faced.
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Trayce Jackson-Davis Revisited One Indiana Decision That Still Stings
Trayce Jackson-Davis is still one of the defining players of Indianas recent era, and his reflection on his college career showed how deliberate his path really was. After a strong senior season, he decided not to take advantage of the extra year of eligibility created by COVID-19, feeling he had already said all he needed to say in Bloomington. Even as he settled into his role, he kept expanding his game, adding more playmaking and ball-handling in his final season as Mike Woodson pushed him to grow beyond being just a scorer.
What lingers for Jackson-Davis now is less about leaving early than about one skill he never fully unlocked. He said he wishes he had developed his three-point shot more in college, a notable regret considering how little he used it across his Indiana career. It is the kind of hindsight that comes with time, especially for a player who did so much right for the Hoosiers, but it also leaves open the question of how much more versatile his game might have looked if he had stayed just a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Is Chasing Another Massive Receiver Win For Indiana
Curt Cignetti is already working to keep Indianas recruiting momentum rolling into the 2028 cycle, and one of the biggest names on the board is five-star wide receiver Braylon Clark. Clark has trimmed his list to 12 finalists, with Indiana making the cut alongside national powers such as Ohio State and Oregon, a sign that the Hoosiers are at least in the conversation for one of the classs premier pass-catchers.
Indiana is trying to set up an official visit for Clark as it looks to turn that early interest into something more concrete. The Hoosiers currently have one commitment in the 2028 class, so landing a player of Clarks caliber would be another major statement after the programs strong 2027 recruiting push and a reminder that Cignetti is not slowing down on the trail. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Reached A Huge Recruiting Moment With Elite WR Prospect
Braylon Clarks recruitment is already moving like one of those national battles that never really cools off, and the elite 2028 wide receiver has now trimmed his list to 12 schools. Ranked No. 6 in his class by Rivals, Clark has spent plenty of time on the road taking visits, and the early shape of his process suggests he is weighing a mix of national contenders rather than locking in on one region or conference.
Ohio State sits near the front of the pack in Rivals insider predictions, but the race still appears wide open enough to keep several SEC and ACC programs firmly in the mix. For programs tracking the receiver board far beyond their own borders, the next stretch of Clarks recruitment figures to be all about separation, relationships, and which staff can stay in striking distance as the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]