Indiana’s rebuilt secondary is getting thrown into the deep end.
Northwestern arrives with Chip Kelly calling the shots, and that alone makes this a matchup worth circling. Kelly has already popped up all over the college football map - UCLA head coach, Ohio State offensive coordinator, Las Vegas Raiders offensive coordinator and now Northwestern offensive coordinator - and he’s bringing an offense that has already shown plenty of life in 2026.
The Wildcats put up 34 points against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in their opener, then followed that with 41 against Colorado on Saturday. Kelly has gotten strong production out of quarterback Aidan Chiles, a name Indiana fans know well from his two seasons at Michigan State.
Chiles gives Northwestern the kind of dual-threat flexibility Kelly has long leaned on. He isn’t being asked to turn into a pure running quarterback, but the Wildcats have used his legs to extend plays, handle short-yardage snaps and finish drives in the red zone. Through two games, he already has three rushing touchdowns.
The biggest receiving threat in the mix is Griffin Wilde, who led Northwestern in receiving in 2025 with 880 yards and 8 touchdowns after transferring in from South Dakota State. He has wasted no time becoming central to Kelly’s passing game, catching 8 passes for 189 yards through two games.
At about 6’2”, Wilde does a lot of his best work on crossing routes in the middle of the field, where he can find space between the numbers and turn catches into bigger gains. He’s also shown he can stretch the field, making athletic plays as a deep target in 2025.
Northwestern’s running backs are part of the passing game too. Caleb Komolafe has 5 catches for 64 yards, while Joseph Himon II has 4 receptions for 61 yards and 3 touchdowns, making the backfield a real factor for opposing defenses.
That creates a serious test for Indiana, which may be down a starter at cornerback with A.J. Harris listed as doubtful.
Jamari Sharpe, Indiana’s No. 1 corner, returned against Western Kentucky, and Ryland Gandy has stepped in for Harris. Safety Preston Zachman is also entering his first Big Ten game at Indiana.
It’s a different-looking secondary than the one Indiana had last season, and Northwestern’s offense is set up to stress it in multiple ways. Chiles can extend plays with his feet, Wilde is a major threat at receiver, and the Wildcats’ backs add another layer out of the backfield.
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For Indiana fans, the detail is less about changing the result than about how thin the margins can feel in a game of that size. The reported disruption lasted only a play or two and was not believed to have materially altered the outcome, but the disagreement over whether it came during the final drive has only fueled the conversation around a finish that already had enough drama on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Got An Early Warning About Northwestern
Northwesterns 41-7 win over Colorado offered a quick glimpse of the challenge Indiana could be facing when it lines up against the Wildcats. At Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, Northwestern set the tone early with a defense that disrupted Colorado and an offense that finished drives, the kind of complementary performance that can make a September game feel out of reach fast.
Quarterback Chiles and running back Joseph Himon II were central to that fast start, helping Northwestern build separation before Colorado finally found the end zone late. For Indiana, the takeaway is simple enough: the Wildcats have already shown they can control a game on both sides of the ball, and that makes the upcoming matchup worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas First Big Ten Availability Report Brings A Crucial Special Teams Twist
The Big Tens second availability report for Indianas game against Northwestern added a meaningful special teams wrinkle for the Hoosiers, with Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt now eligible to play after receiving an injunction against the NCAA. It is the kind of late-week development that can matter in a tightly contested conference game, especially for a team still sorting through the final edges of its lineup before kickoff.
Indiana still enters the matchup with three players listed out, one doubtful and one questionable, so there is uncertainty on its side of the report even with the added options. Northwesterns list is much longer, with 14 players out and three doubtful, including starting defensive back Braden Turner, leaving both teams to navigate a shortened pool as the game approaches. [Read more 🡒]