Indiana’s 2026 schedule already has a couple of eye-catching numbers attached to it, and both point toward chances the Hoosiers have never quite cashed in before.
The biggest one comes on Oct. 24, when IU heads to Ann Arbor to face Michigan. Indiana has not won in Ann Arbor since 1967, the year the Hoosiers used that run to claim a share of the Big Ten title and reach the Rose Bowl. DraftKings’ early line gives Indiana a 6.5-point edge over the Wolverines.
A few weeks later, the Hoosiers get another shot at history at home against USC on Nov. 14.
IU has never beaten the Trojans, going 0-4 all-time, including the Rose Bowl loss after the 1967 season. The teams last played in 1982, and DraftKings currently has Indiana favored by 10.5 points.
Those matchups are also among the toughest on the schedule, at least according to ESPN’s preseason FPI. USC checks in at No. 13 and Michigan at No. 15, making them the second- and third-hardest games on Indiana’s slate.
There’s another wrinkle worth watching with USC, Minnesota and Rutgers. USC is one of only three Big Ten teams Indiana does not currently have an active winning streak against, and the other two are also on the 2026 schedule.
Indiana hasn’t played any of the three since Curt Cignetti was hired. If the Hoosiers manage to run the table in the league for a second straight year, they would hold active winning streaks against all 18 conference teams.
Indiana also opens the season with a hefty number next to its name. For the Sept. 5 opener against North Texas, DraftKings has IU listed as a 40.5-point favorite.
In Other News...
Monshun Sales Just Turned Up The Pressure On Indiana Football
A major recruiting decision is coming into focus for Indiana football, and it has everything to do with Monshun Sales, the highly ranked Lawrence North wide receiver who has become one of the most important names in the Hoosiers' 2027 class. Sales has set his commitment announcement for Friday, July 17, and he will reveal his choice live on The Pat McAfee Show, putting a national spotlight on a recruitment that already carries plenty of weight for Curt Cignetti's program.
Indiana is in the mix with several bluebloods, but this one matters beyond the usual recruiting drama because Sales is the kind of prospect who can change how a class is viewed before it even takes shape. If the Hoosiers can land him, it would send a message on the trail that they can win battles for elite talent close to home and beyond, which is exactly why the coming announcement has turned into a pressure point for Indiana as much as a decision for Sales. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Just Entered A Recruiting Fight Hoosiers Fans Will Notice
Indiana is in the mix for one of the more coveted quarterbacks in the 2028 class, as Lukas Prock of The Hun School of Princeton has trimmed his focus to a small group of finalists. The four-star prospect is already drawing national attention, with more than 30 Power Four offers and a profile that has him among the quarterbacks everyone in the recruiting industry is tracking.
For Indiana, the encouraging part is that Prock has said the Hoosiers are among the programs standing out most to him right now, alongside Ohio State and Notre Dame. He has preferred to wait until after his junior season to make a decision, but the clock may not stay that simple if other quarterbacks start coming off the board this summer. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Nears A Program-Changing Recruiting Decision Fans Have Been Waiting For
Monshun Sales is set to put one of the biggest recruiting decisions in the 2027 class on the calendar, with the five-star wide receiver expected to announce his college commitment on July 17 during the Pat McAfee Show. For Indiana, that alone makes this a notable moment, because Sales is not just another highly rated target. He is one of the top uncommitted prospects in the country and a player with the kind of profile that can change how a program is viewed on the recruiting trail.
Sales is drawing interest from Alabama, Indiana, LSU, Ohio State and Texas, but the latest chatter has centered on a tighter race than the original list suggests. Indiana has been the Rivals Prediction Machine favorite for much of the year, while Texas has made a late push, setting up a finish that has Hoosiers fans watching closely for what could be a defining recruiting win. A commitment in Indianas favor would carry real program significance, and that is exactly why this decision has become must-see television. [Read more 🡒]