Indiana is heading into Friday night with the computer models and the oddsmakers leaning hard its way.
The No. 4/5 Hoosiers, now 3-0, will open 2026 Big Ten play against Northwestern on Friday evening at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on FOX. The Wildcats are 2-0, but the betting line still has Indiana as a 23.5-point favorite as of Monday morning.
This matchup also brings a familiar opponent to town. Indiana is 36-47-1 all-time against Northwestern, and the Hoosiers won the last meeting 41-24 in Evanston in 2024. IU has now taken two straight from the Wildcats.
Northwestern comes in with fourth-year head coach David Braun at the controls. He’s 21-19 at the school and 11-16 in Big Ten play, and the Wildcats have reached a bowl game in two of his three previous seasons.
The Wildcats are riding momentum after a 41-7 win over Colorado in Evanston on Saturday. Before that, they opened with a 34-18 win over South Dakota State from the FCS ranks, then had an unusual bye in Week 2.
There’s also a notable wrinkle for Northwestern: Friday’s game against IU is its final one before the program opens its new home stadium, Ryan Field. The Wildcats have spent the last two years in a temporary campus facility, including the 2024 meeting with the Hoosiers.
Offensively, Northwestern has been productive under new coordinator Chip Kelly. The Wildcats are averaging 37.5 points per game, which ranks 45th nationally, while allowing 12.5 points per game, good for No.
- PFF grades Northwestern as the No. 54 offense and No. 97 defense in the country.
At quarterback, Northwestern will send out a name Indiana fans already know well. Michigan State transfer Aiden Chiles played against the Hoosiers for the Spartans in both 2024 and 2025, and he’ll face IU again on Friday in a different uniform.
Chiles has completed 67.4% of his passes for 514 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s also added 20 rushing yards and three more scores. Against Indiana in 2025, he went 27-of-33 passing with a touchdown and no interceptions, and he rushed for 48 yards against IU last year, including sack adjustments.
The advanced numbers are just as favorable to Indiana. ESPN’s FPI gives the Hoosiers an 89.5% chance to win, with IU sitting at No. 5 in the model and Northwestern at No. 33 after jumping 24 spots following the Colorado win. ESPN’s SP+ projects a 35-14 Indiana victory and gives the Hoosiers a 90% chance to get it done.
Weather-wise, the early forecast for Friday calls for a partly cloudy day with a high of 73 and a low of 50. That could change, so it’s worth checking again later in the week.
GAMEDAY TIMELINE
Noon - Tailgating lots open
5:35 p.m. - The Walk and gameday rally
6:30 p.m. - Stadium gates open
7:36 p.m. - Marching Hundred pregame show
8:00 p.m. - Kickoff
In Other News...
Omar Cooper Jr.s Promising NFL Start Just Hit A Tough Delay
Omar Cooper Jr.s NFL debut hit an early snag after the New York Jets placed the former Indiana standout on Injured Reserve with a sprained ankle. The first-round pick had played in just one game in his rookie season before the setback, a frustrating pause for a player who arrived in the league with plenty of buzz after leading Indiana in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns during the Hoosiers national title run.
The encouraging part for the Jets is that Cooper is expected to be designated to return, which keeps the door open for a comeback as soon as Week 6. For now, though, the injury will cost him at least four games and delay what had looked like a promising early start to his professional career. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Dominant Start Still Wasnt Enough In Latest AP Poll
Indiana kept rolling with a 38-0 win over Western Kentucky, giving the Hoosiers back-to-back shutouts and a 3-0 start to the 2026 season. The defense has been the headline early, and the latest result only added to the sense that Indiana has built real momentum in the opening month.
Still, the AP voters were not moved enough to keep the Hoosiers in place. Indiana slipped one spot to No. 5 after Ole Miss lopsided win over LSU pushed the Rebels ahead, even though the Hoosiers still received four first-place votes and remained No. 4 in the US LBM Coaches Poll. In a sport where perception can move almost as fast as results, Indiana is finding out that a dominant start does not always guarantee the same reward in the rankings. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Just Got Two Big Reasons To Eye Purdue
Indiana is suddenly carrying a little more momentum across the athletic department after a 38-0 football win over Western Kentucky gave the Hoosiers back-to-back shutouts. On top of that, the Big Ten released the 2026-27 mens and womens basketball conference schedules, giving fans another early look at the dates and matchups that will shape the next stretch of league play.
There is also more to watch on the recruiting front, where IU basketball picked up a commitment from 2027 prospect Felix Kiehlneker. Add in a pair of preseason projections that slot Indiana seventh in the Big Ten, and the season ahead already has a built-in edge as the Hoosiers look to prove they belong higher in the league picture. [Read more 🡒]