Josh Hoover’s Heisman buzz took a noticeable tumble this week, even after he turned in another solid outing.
The TCU transfer entered the season as a sleeper in plenty of Heisman conversations, then quickly forced his way into the bigger picture after throwing four touchdowns in each of Indiana’s first two games. That kind of start had people talking about Hoover as more than a long shot, with some even floating him as the next Fernando Mendoza.
But Saturday’s line against winless Western Kentucky - 18 of 24 for 273 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions - wasn’t enough to keep his odds moving in the right direction. FanDuel had Hoover at 17/1 (+1700) last week. Now he’s sitting at 25/1 (+2500).
That drop comes even though Hoover has been productive all season. He’s thrown for 649 yards and 10 touchdowns without an interception, and he’s completed 72.5% of his passes.
Still, the early schedule has done him no favors from a Heisman optics standpoint, and Indiana’s offense got off to a slower start than usual against Western Kentucky. Hoover also missed a couple of throws, though it was still a step forward after last week.
The Heisman board has shifted around him, too. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is now the favorite at +310, followed by Miami quarterback Darian Mensah (+390), Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (+950), Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor (+1100), Texas quarterback Arch Manning (+1200), Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney (+1200), Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr (+1200) and Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell (+2200).
Hoover hasn’t played a full game yet this season, but that should change as Indiana opens Big Ten play next week against Northwestern. With tougher opponents coming, he’ll likely be asked to throw more. If he keeps piling up efficient numbers - something in the neighborhood of 200-plus yards and a couple of touchdowns each week - he can climb right back into the thick of the race.
His clearest path back up the board, though, comes in mid-October. If Indiana is unbeaten when Ohio State and Michigan arrive and Hoover plays well in those games, he could be sitting inside the top five of the Heisman race.
For now, the stock is down. Long term, he’s still very much in the conversation.
In Other News...
Indiana's Rise Is Creating A Memorial Stadium Problem Fans Can See
Indianas 38-0 win over Western Kentucky kept the No. 9 Hoosiers rolling to 3-0 and pushed their winning streak to 19 games, a run that has turned every Saturday at Memorial Stadium into something closer to a destination event than a routine college football date. On the field, the product has been easy to admire. In the stands, though, the surge in interest is making some of the stadiums long-standing limitations harder to ignore.
There was plenty to like about the atmosphere and the overall fan experience, but the basics can still test patience when the crowd keeps growing. Concessions lines and bathroom access stood out as the most obvious pressure points, the kind of issues that become more noticeable as Indiana keeps drawing bigger crowds and bigger expectations. With more big games ahead and ongoing stadium improvements in the mix, Memorial Stadiums next challenge may be keeping pace with the programs rise. [Read more 🡒]
Curt Cignetti Sends A Clear Message Before Indiana's Big Ten Opener
Curt Cignetti used his weekly press conference to shift the conversation toward what comes next, with Indiana set to open Big Ten play against Northwestern after a successful non-conference stretch. The Hoosiers have built some momentum early, and Cignetti made it clear the focus inside the program is now on the conference schedule and the kind of week-to-week challenge that comes with it.
Cignetti also took aim at the noise around quarterback Josh Hoover, saying the scrutiny has been unfair given how well Hoover has played through the first three games. And in a more unusual appeal, the Indiana coach asked fans to stay in their seats for the full game, a reminder that the atmosphere around a league opener can matter just as much as what happens on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Showed How Serious It Is About Fixing The Pass Rush
Indiana is still early in its latest pass-rush search, but the latest scholarship offer makes the priority pretty clear. Fred Ntumba, an edge defender from Antioch High School in Tennessee, is the kind of prospect the Hoosiers have been targeting as they try to add more punch to a defensive front that needs more speed, length and disruption. His size, athleticism and natural rushing ability fit the profile Indiana wants as it keeps building out the line of scrimmage.
For a staff trying to deepen the defense and hold up better in the Big Ten, the appeal is straightforward: Ntumba brings the physical tools and effort level coaches covet, and they see him as someone who could grow into an important piece. Offers like this are part of the broader push to make the pass rush less of a weakness and more of a weapon, though the real test now is whether Indiana can turn that interest into momentum with a prospect it clearly values. [Read more 🡒]