The loss of Stephen Daley after the Big Ten Championship was a significant blow for Indiana's football team, especially from the perspective of the coaching staff. Fresh off their first-ever league championship game victory, Indiana's defensive coordinator, Bryant Haines, had no inkling that something was amiss with his standout defensive end.
Haines recounted the moment on 103.7 The Buzz in Arkansas, saying, “I hugged Stephen Daley as soon as the game ended. We were Big Ten champs, the clock hit 00:00, and everything seemed perfect.”
But the celebration took a turn when Haines was informed that Daley had been carted off the field. “I said, ‘Well, what happened?’
And they said, ‘I don’t know, he collapsed.’”
Daley had just wrapped up another dominant performance, living up to his reputation by recording a sack and a tackle for loss in Indiana's 13-10 victory over Ohio State. Initially, Haines thought Daley was simply exhausted from his efforts. “I assumed it was an adrenaline dump, maybe too tired to stand,” he reflected.
The reality, however, was a shock. Daley had suffered a serious knee injury while celebrating on the field.
“I ran through the stadium's bowels to find him, wanting to know what happened,” Haines said. “It wasn’t until later, about an hour after the game, that I got the full picture.
It wasn’t quite the celebration I was hoping for.”
Daley, who transferred from Kent State in the offseason, emerged as a crucial player for Indiana throughout the 2025 season. Initially a rotational player, his role expanded significantly, especially after starter Kellan Wyatt suffered a season-ending injury.
By the end of the regular season, Daley was leading the Big Ten and tied nationally for tackles for loss. His 2025 stats were impressive: 19 tackles for loss, 41 quarterback pressures, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, with 10 tackles for loss in the last three regular-season games.
With both Daley and Wyatt sidelined, Indiana fans were understandably anxious about how the team would fare in the College Football Playoff without such key contributors. It was a genuine concern.
Reflecting on Daley's impact, Haines stated, “When he got hurt, and I’m admittedly biased, I believed he was the best defensive end in college football. The disruption he caused was unmatched. If you look at the numbers, you'll see that he was indeed at the top of his game when the injury occurred.”