Indiana spent a rare July night in Assembly Hall looking every bit like a team in midseason form.
Playing in an exhibition as the USA’s representative ahead of the FISU American Games in Peru, the Hoosiers blasted Canada 98-64 in Bloomington. It was a showcase for Indiana’s completely rebuilt roster, and Aiden Sherell made the biggest imprint with 16 points.
After the game, Indiana coach Darien DeVries spoke with reporters, while Inside the Hall provided a photo gallery, player stats, and highlights from the win. Alex Bozich also offered Five Takeaways from the rout.
The basketball news did not stop there. With the exhibition in the books, IU now shifts fully into prep mode for Peru, where the games run July 20-Aug 1 and Indiana will represent the United States. Practice continues, and the Hoosiers are still getting ready for what comes next.
One name to watch is Samet Yigitoglu. The incoming transfer will not be able to play on the trip because he is a non-American, though he did take part in Wednesday’s exhibition.
Even so, Indiana expects plenty from him once the season begins. Freshman Trevor Manhertz is also working to build confidence.
On the football side, Indiana landed a headline-making commitment from Monshun Sales, the highest-ranked recruit in program history. The five-star wide receiver from Lawrence North, ranked in the top 15 nationally, announced for the Hoosiers on the Pat McAfee show on Friday. That made him the first 5-star player ever to choose IU.
Sales adds another major recruiting win for a program fresh off a national championship and looking built to stay near the top for years to come. Lawrence North has also produced recent NFL draftee Omar Cooper and current Indiana wide receiver Davion Chandler.
Elsewhere around IU football, Inside the Hall continued its 2026 position previews by breaking down the linebackers, defensive tackles, and defensive ends. The expectation remains that Indiana will take the field this fall with little drop-off after last winter’s title run.
The week also brought a new episode of Podcast on the Brink, featuring USBWA Hall of Famer Rick Bozich discussing IU’s exhibition win. The Back Home Network also rolled out multiple shows during the week.
And in the Hoosier Roundup, there was plenty happening beyond the two marquee programs. IU baseball pitcher Jackson Bergman was drafted in the 18th round by the Chicago White Sox.
Soccer’s Palmer Ault received a deal to play professionally in the US. Volleyball’s Kri Kovi competed for Team Serbia at the U22 European Championships and helped her squad win silver, while the program also announced its representatives for Big Ten media day.
Wrestling’s Hunter Sturgill added a silver medal at the U-20 Pan American Championships.
In Other News...
Indiana Is Entering Rare Territory And One Question Will Define It
Indiana is headed into territory it has never occupied before, with a preseason AP ranking that should land in the top 10 and could climb even higher. For a program that has spent most of its modern history trying to break into the national conversation, that kind of expectation changes the tone of the offseason, especially with Curt Cignettis track record and a roster that still has to prove it can handle the weight of being treated like a contender.
The bigger question is how Indiana absorbs the kind of turnover that usually trips up teams in this spot, from losing Elijah Sarratt and Omar Cooper Jr. to the NFL to reworking the passing game around Josh Hoover. The Hoosiers have added pieces such as Nick Marsh and are being measured against rare defending champions that had to reset at quarterback, but the real test will be whether this version of Indiana can keep the standard high while answering the one roster question that matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Why Curt Cignettis Video Game Role Matters So Much For Indiana
Curt Cignettis presence in EA Sports College Football 27 is the kind of small branding move that can carry real weight for Indiana. The Hoosiers coach shows up in the game intro and on the Deluxe Edition cover, giving the program a national platform inside a product that still reaches a massive audience and keeps college football in front of fans long after Saturdays end.
For Indiana, the appeal goes beyond novelty. Cignetti has said the exposure helps the Hoosiers brand and can matter in recruiting, especially with prospects who spend time playing the game themselves. With EA Sports reporting millions of unique users shortly after the games 2025 release, Indiana is betting that a little digital visibility can translate into a bigger real-world footprint. [Read more 🡒]