In a season that has already leaned hard on Indiana’s running backs, the injury report is starting to look like a real problem. Turbo Richard, Lee Beebe Jr., Khobie Martin and Sean Cuono are all dealing with issues of some kind, and that leaves IU heading into its first road game of the year at Rutgers with a backfield that is anything but whole.
Richard’s sprained ankle is the biggest concern. He was hit late out of bounds on a play that knocked him out for the entire second half against Northwestern, though it was encouraging that he avoided serious injury.
He was listed as probable, but even if he returns and plays well, the wear and tear still matters. Every hit he takes now could show up later in the season.
Beebe stepped in and delivered in a huge way when Richard went down, ripping off 203 rushing yards to help IU hold off Northwestern. He finished with 94 yards after first contact, a number that speaks to how much force he brought to the game. But Beebe was also listed as questionable for Saturday night against Rutgers, which is a surprise given how much he just carried the offense.
Cuono is in the same boat, and Martin has already been out with the multi-week arm injury he suffered in the opener against North Texas. That means four IU running backs are, at the very least, less than 100% going into Game No. 2 in conference play.
That’s not exactly a disaster on paper, because Indiana has shown it can keep the run game moving even when the room is patched together. Under Curt Cignetti, the position has been as plug-and-play as any on the roster. IU is averaging 234 rushing yards per game amid a herky-jerky start to 2026, and Beebe’s breakout only added to that sense of depth.
But this is where the concern starts to sharpen. IU is not just looking for bodies back there.
It needs backs who can take contact, stay upright and keep churning through tacklers. Richard has 268 yards after first contact and is averaging 5.36 yards after first contact, and Beebe’s Northwestern performance showed he can bring that same kind of physical edge.
Together, they have been the 1-2 punch IU needed to replace Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby from last year’s national championship team.
Martin was supposed to be the bridge in that room for this new offense, and Cignetti said he would not be back until midseason. That absence is already being felt, and it could matter again on Saturday.
The good news for IU is that Rutgers may not demand a perfect backfield to get the job done. Even if Josh Hoover is not quite Fernando Mendoza 2.0 yet, he should be able to handle that game from empty-back sets if needed. So the question is not whether Indiana can survive one game with some improvisation.
The bigger issue is what all of this means down the line. Playoff expansion has turned the season into a marathon, and being healthy at the right time can be the difference in winning a title. Cignetti knows that as well as anyone, which is why he would be the last person to make too much noise about it.
Still, the examples are there. 2025 Oregon had to prepare for a Playoff game with a decimated backfield.
2023 Washington won a national title without any healthy running back who could really run the offense. Indiana does not need to look far to see how quickly depth problems can become season-altering problems.
Maybe this ends up being nothing more than a hot-hand situation, with different backs carrying the load at different times. Maybe not. Right now, IU is dealing with a backfield that suddenly feels a lot thinner than it did a week ago, and that is not the kind of place any defending champ wants to be.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Backfield Problem At The Worst Time
Indianas backfield is suddenly in a precarious spot heading into its Week 5 matchup with Rutgers, and the timing could hardly be worse. Khobie Martin is officially out with a broken forearm, while Turbo Richard is still dealing with a high ankle sprain, leaving the Hoosiers to sort through a running back room that is already under strain.
Lee Beebe Jr. and Sean Cuono both landed on the questionable list on the latest availability report, which only adds to the uncertainty. With multiple names in flux, Indiana may have to lean heavily on depth and improvisation just to keep the ground game on schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana May Need These Starters Most To Stay Unbeaten At Rutgers
As Indiana gets ready for a Week 5 trip to Rutgers, the Hoosiers are staring at a familiar early-season problem: injuries in the running back room could force the offense to lean even harder on its other staples. That puts extra importance on quarterback Josh Hoover and offensive tackle Carter Smith, two players Indiana may need to steady things if the ground game is less than full strength.
The other side of the equation is just as demanding. Rutgers has a top target in wide receiver KJ Duff, and cornerback Jamari Sharpe is expected to have a key role in trying to slow him down. In a game where every matchup feels a little sharper because of the injuries Indiana is carrying, the Hoosiers may find themselves asking their starters to cover more than one job. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Unbeaten Start Is Fueling A Huge Draft Rise For Three Hoosiers
Indianas unbeaten start has done more than keep the Hoosiers in the conversation on the field. It has also pushed three of their key players into an early spotlight on the draft circuit, with ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid placing wide receiver Charlie Becker, wideout Nick Marsh and offensive lineman Carter Smith among his top 50 prospects for the 2027 NFL Draft.
Becker comes in as Reids No. 8 overall prospect thanks to his size, speed and contested-catch ability, while Marsh lands at No. 26 for his physicality and route running. Smith checks in at No. 44 as a steady presence up front, a sign that Indianas unbeaten run is being built on more than one breakout star and that NFL evaluators are taking notice well before the 2026 season is over. [Read more 🡒]