Indiana has spent the first two weeks looking every bit like a top-five team, but the real test of what the Hoosiers are building is still ahead. At 2-0 and ranked No. 4 in the country, Curt Cignetti’s team is heading into the final stretch of non-conference play with plenty of momentum and a few things still worth watching closely.
The offense is the obvious headline. Under Cignetti, Indiana keeps producing video-game numbers, and last week’s 50-point outburst marked the 13th time the Hoosiers have hit that mark in the Cignetti era. They’ll try to do it again against WKU, and there’s no reason to think this group is anywhere close to slowing down.
A huge part of that production has come from transfer quarterback Josh Hoover, who has been nothing short of electric through two games. The former TCU quarterback is 19-of-27 for 376 yards and eight touchdowns, with no interceptions and a completion rate north of 70%.
He’s spread the ball around, found multiple receivers for scores and even shown enough with his legs to keep defenses honest. Right now, he looks like a seamless fit in Cignetti’s system.
One of Hoover’s favorite targets has been Charlie Becker, and the connection has been especially dangerous in the red zone and downfield. Becker has only seven catches so far, but five have gone for touchdowns.
At 6-4 and 208 pounds, he’s already shown he can win on deep balls, jump balls, contested catches and routes over the middle. With WKU’s defense struggling, Becker looks poised for another big day.
Indiana’s defense has been just as impressive, even if the spotlight has mostly stayed on the offense. The Hoosiers rank No. 11 nationally in scoring defense after allowing just 16 points across two games.
All 16 came against North Texas, and then Howard was blanked completely. Even with injuries in the secondary, Indiana has stayed sharp, athletic and disciplined enough that it doesn’t appear to have an obvious weak spot.
The backfield has also given Cignetti exactly what he wants from a two-RB setup. Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard have split the workload and made it look easy.
Richard has 26 carries for 166 yards and three touchdowns, while Beebe Jr. has logged 30 carries for 145 yards. Both have been productive, both have been dependable, and that balance has helped open up the play-action game.
That, in turn, has created the kind of clean looks Hoover has been feeding to Becker.
So as Indiana moves toward the end of non-conference play, the questions are less about whether the Hoosiers are good and more about how long they can keep this pace. Through two weeks, the answer has been pretty clear: very.
In Other News...
Indiana QB Is Suddenly At The Center Of A Big Ten Shakeup
The Big Ten quarterback pecking order got a jolt after Week 2, and Indiana has a new face sitting at the top of it. Josh Hoover moved into the No. 1 spot after a strong start, giving the Hoosiers a notable bit of national recognition in a conference where the quarterback conversation can change fast from one Saturday to the next.
Elsewhere in the league, the standings were just as volatile. Ohio States Julian Sayin slipped from No. 1 to No. 4 after the loss to Texas, while USCs Maiava, Penn States Becht and Michigans Underwood all shifted based on their latest outings. For Indiana, Hoovers rise is a reminder that in a league loaded with big names, a good couple of weeks can suddenly put a quarterback and his team right in the middle of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Got Bad News In A Key 2027 Recruiting Fight
Indianas push to reshape its frontcourt already had an important early piece in place with Felix Kiehlneker, the 7-foot-1 German center who committed to the Hoosiers as part of the 2027 class. That addition fit neatly with Darian DeVries plan to lean hard into size and interior talent after last seasons struggles, and it gave Indiana a foothold in a recruiting cycle where the paint is clearly a priority.
The next step has gotten more complicated with five-star target Darius Wabbington, one of the top names on Indianas board, moving up his official visit to Illinois. For a program trying to build momentum in the frontcourt, any shift like that matters, especially when a rival is pressing harder for the same elite big man. The Hoosiers still have time to make their case, but the race for Wabbington now looks a little tighter than it did before. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Easy Schedule Just Sparked A Bigger Hoosiers Debate
Indianas non-conference football schedule has become more than a calendar note, and under the current College Football Playoff setup it carries real strategic weight. Choosing lighter early opponents can reduce the chance of an early stumble that might damage playoff hopes, and it is easy to see why a coaching staff would value that margin for error.
Still, the approach comes with a tradeoff that keeps surfacing in the broader discussion around the Hoosiers. Easier games may protect the record, but they can also leave less room for competitive preparation and player development, which is why there is a growing case for wanting a tougher slate even while understanding the logic behind the way it is built. [Read more 🡒]