Indiana’s final nonconference test of the 2026 season looks like it could be a lopsided one on paper.
The No. 4 Hoosiers are set to face Western Kentucky on Saturday at 4 p.m.
ET at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, with the game slated for Peacock/NBC Sports Network. Indiana comes in at 2-0, while the Hilltoppers are still searching for their first win at 0-2.
The matchup also carries a familiar feel for IU. The Hoosiers are 5-0 all-time against Western Kentucky, and every one of those wins has come since 2008.
None of them have been blowouts, either - all five have been decided by 18 points or fewer, including Indiana’s 33-30 overtime win in Bloomington in 2022. The last three IU victories in the series have all been by three points or less.
Western Kentucky is guided by Tyson Helton, now in his eighth season in charge. He has gone 57-38 at the school, including 40-15 in Conference USA, and the program has reached seven straight bowl games. But this season has started badly for the Hilltoppers, who have dropped a 49-14 game at Nevada and a 70-20 result at Georgia.
Through two games, WKU is averaging 17 points per contest, which ranks 123rd nationally, and it is allowing 59.5 points per game, the worst mark in FBS at No. 138. PFF has the Hilltoppers graded at No. 132 on offense and No. 136 on defense.
Quarterback play, usually a strength in Helton’s system, has not gotten off the ground yet. Sophomore Rodney Tisdale, listed at 6-foot-2, has completed 55.6% of his passes for 234 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Junior Brock Glenn, also 6-foot-2, has seen plenty of action as well, completing 52.2% of his throws for 84 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Both quarterbacks have run 14 times, with Glenn totaling 70 rushing yards and two scores.
The early numbers point heavily toward Indiana. As of Monday morning, the Hoosiers were listed as 44.5-point favorites.
ESPN’s FPI gives IU a 99% chance to win, with Indiana sitting at No. 6 in the model and Western Kentucky at No. 120.
ESPN’s SP+ projection is even more emphatic, calling for a 48-7 Indiana win and assigning the Hoosiers a 100% chance to take it.
Weather should cooperate, at least for now. The early forecast calls for a mostly sunny Saturday with a high of 91 degrees, though that can still change as the week goes on.
For fans heading to campus, the gameday schedule starts early. Tailgating lots open at 9:00 a.m., The Walk and gameday rally are set for 1:35 p.m., stadium gates open at 2:30 p.m., the Marching Hundred pregame show begins at 3:35 p.m., and kickoff is at 4:00 p.m.
In Other News...
Indiana Suddenly Has A Real Opening In The Big Ten Race
Week 2 in the Big Ten brought a little more clarity and a lot more chaos, and Indiana had to like what it saw from the rest of the league. Ohio States collapse after building a strong start against Texas, Oregons second straight stumble after its earlier loss, and Michigans defense holding up against Oklahoma all fed into a race that suddenly feels less tidy than it did a week ago. USC also kept building momentum behind quarterback Jayden Maiava, another reminder that the leagues top tier may be deeper and less predictable than expected.
For Indiana, the value in that disorder is obvious. The Hoosiers do not need the Big Ten to get easy, but they do need the field above them to keep taking turns giving ground, and that is exactly what the opening stretch delivered. With the conference already showing signs of volatility and some of its biggest names still sorting out who they are, Indiana can see a path to mattering in a race that looked more crowded than competitive just days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana's Defensive Rotation Just Put A New Spotlight On Its Depth
Indiana leaned heavily on its defensive depth in the 55-0 win over Howard, and the snap counts told the story just as much as the scoreboard did. The Hoosiers spread the workload across a long list of contributors, with Mario Landino and Chiddi Obiazor standing out among the pressure players and Rolijah Hardy turning in the kind of splash play that can change the feel of a game in a hurry.
What makes the rotation worth watching now is how many different pieces were involved, including freshmen and players still chasing more eligibility. Early in the season, that kind of distribution can be a luxury if everyone stays productive, but it can also become a real evaluation tool as Indiana learns who can hold up once the competition tightens and the game plans get more demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Waits On Court Fight That Could Cost Two Key Veterans
Indiana football is still waiting on the legal wrangling that could shape the rest of its season, with the eligibility case involving veterans Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt ending in court Wednesday without a ruling. The two players are challenging the NCAA over its five-for-five eligibility rule, and the absence of a decision leaves the Hoosiers in a holding pattern as the week moves toward Saturdays game.
The temporary restraining order that had allowed Daley and Wyatt to keep playing has now expired, which means they are ineligible unless the judge acts before the weekend. Attorneys have until Thursday to submit final documentation, but for now Indiana is left watching the calendar as much as the depth chart, hoping the legal process catches up in time to avoid losing two experienced pieces. [Read more 🡒]