Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin didn’t exactly hand out empty praise when he talked about Indiana’s defense at Big Ten Media Days. He sounded like a quarterback who knows he’s about to deal with a unit that can wreck a game plan.
Sayin pointed to the Hoosiers’ discipline and positioning as the traits that make them such a problem. He said, "They are really well coached, they are bringing their zone drops, they get to the right spot.
They make it very tough on quarterbacks and offenses to pick them apart. There aren't many big plays you are going to see against them."
That kind of description fits what Indiana has been doing under defensive coordinator Bryant Haines. Over the last two seasons, the Hoosiers have been elite by any measure, and last year’s numbers backed up the eye test. Indiana finished second in the country in points per game allowed at 11.7, fourth in yards per game allowed at 266.0, and first in turnover differential at +21.
The defense also left its mark on Sayin and Ohio State in last December’s Big Ten Championship Game. The Buckeyes, who came in averaging more than 35 points per game, were held to 10. Sayin never really found a groove, his longest completion went for just 20 yards, and he finished with one touchdown, one interception, and a season-low QBR of 61.1.
Indiana’s offense got plenty of the spotlight during its undefeated run to a National Championship last season, and for good reason. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza led a group that piled up historic production. But the Hoosiers’ defense was just as much a part of that title run, even if it didn’t always get the same attention.
Now the focus shifts to 2026, with the season creeping closer. Indiana opens its title defense on Saturday, September 5 against North Texas at Memorial Stadium. The bigger date on the calendar, though, is October 17, when Ohio State comes to Bloomington in what shapes up as the most difficult game on Indiana’s regular-season schedule.
That matchup already has the feel of a major one, and Sayin’s comments only add a little more fuel. The Buckeyes know exactly what kind of defense they’re walking into. And Indiana knows it already made life miserable for him once.
In Other News...
Indianas Roster Outlook Just Changed After Surprise Eligibility Ruling
A federal court ruling out of Colorado has added a fresh layer of uncertainty to roster planning across college sports, and Indiana is no exception. Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to treat all athletes from the high school class of 2022 as eligible for the 2026-27 collegiate sports year, a move that reaches well beyond one program and forces schools to reassess how they approach the next cycle of roster building.
For the Hoosiers, the timing matters because the ruling opens the door to a new transfer portal window for affected athletes from Aug. 3-10, creating another variable for coaches and players already navigating an ever-shifting eligibility landscape. NCAA president Charlie Baker and the Big Ten and Southeastern Conferences have already voiced support for the Protect College Sports Act in response, a sign that the legal and legislative back-and-forth around college eligibility is far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
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For Indiana, the early pressure points are easy to spot: chemistry, more reliable offense, and enough scoring depth to avoid the droughts that hurt last year. Rebounding is part of that equation too, with new additions expected to help on the glass, but the bigger question is how fast this revamped group can turn talent into a rotation that actually fits, especially when the schedule starts asking for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Fans Already Have A New Rotation Debate To Watch
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Markus Burton had stretches that underscored both his talent and the challenge of turning it into consistent production, as efficiency and turnovers stood out in less encouraging ways. On the other side of the ledger, freshmen such as Prince-Alexander Moody made a strong impression on both ends of the floor, giving Indiana plenty to think about as the next rotation debate starts to take shape well before that season actually begins. [Read more 🡒]