Indiana’s special teams took an unexpected hit on Saturday, and it started with Nico Radicic being nowhere near the field.
Radicic, who entered the 2026 season as one of the most dependable kickers in the country, was ruled out against Howard despite not appearing on any injury reports during the week. The Big Ten Network reported the news early in the first quarter and showed him on the sideline without his helmet, with heating pads around his torso and back.
On the broadcast, Cignetti said Radicic woke up Thursday with back pain and was unable to go. No additional details were offered, and there’s still no timeline for when he might return.
That absence matters because Radicic had been rock solid for Indiana. Last season he hit 17 of 18 field goals and made all 87 of his extra points. He carried that form into Week 1 against North Texas, going 7-for-7 on PATs and drilling a career-long 49-yard field goal in the Hoosiers’ 52-16 win.
With Radicic sidelined, Paddy McAteer stepped into the placekicking job. The Mullaghbawn, Ireland native didn’t kick an American football until April 2024, when he was 20, and he spent two seasons at Troy after coming to the United States.
Indiana had expected him to handle the long-range work this season, especially since Radicic had never tried a field goal from 50 yards or more in college. McAteer, though, has shown he can bring serious leg strength, including a 53-yard field goal for Troy last season at Texas State.
His first outing against Howard was rocky. After Indiana’s second touchdown of the opening quarter, McAteer missed the extra point by pulling it wide left, giving the Hoosiers their first missed PAT in the Cignetti era.
Special teams have been a strength for Indiana over the past two seasons, so that miss stood out. He did bounce back later in the first quarter, converting the PAT after Shazz Preston’s touchdown catch.
For now, McAteer appears set to handle Indiana’s kicking duties while Radicic is out, and the Hoosiers will be waiting on more information about their regular kicker’s status.
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