Indiana got a welcome break on the first Big Ten availability report of Week 6, and the timing couldn’t be better.
The Hoosiers are 5-0 despite dealing with injuries over the past couple of weeks, but the road is about to get much tougher. A trip to Lincoln to face undefeated Nebraska comes first, and matchups with Ohio State, Michigan, USC, and Washington are still on the schedule. With that stretch ahead, Curt Cignetti and his staff needed some positive news.
They got it.
Cornerback AJ Harris is not listed on the initial report, which is the biggest lift for Indiana. Harris, a transfer from Penn State, has been out since going down in Week 1 against North Texas.
He brings 35 appearances and 27 starts from stops at Georgia and Penn State, and he arrived in Bloomington after a junior season that earned him All-Big Ten defensive honorable mention recognition with the Nittany Lions in 2025. Jaylen Bell has handled the spot well in Harris’ absence, but Harris now appears set to go for Week 6.
Defensive lineman Daniel Ndukwe is also off the report after missing Week 5 against Rutgers. His return gives Indiana another boost up front, adding more depth to a defensive line that has already been a strength.
The backfield picture looks much cleaner, too. Last week, Indiana’s top four running backs all showed separate injury designations.
This time around, Turbo Richard, Lee Beebe Jr., and Sean Cuono are all absent from the report after suiting up against Rutgers. That leaves the Hoosiers in much better shape at a position where depth can disappear fast.
Khobie Martin remains the one running back still sidelined, which is no surprise given the broken forearm he suffered in Week 1.
Wide receiver Lebron Bond has been upgraded to questionable for Saturday’s game against Rutgers.
Here is Indiana’s full Week 6 availability report:
Questionable
WR Lebon Bond
The only real setback for Indiana is Andrew Barker being ruled out after getting hurt against Rutgers. Even so, the first report of the week is mostly a positive one for the Hoosiers.
Nebraska, meanwhile, has five players ruled out: WR Larry Miles, DB Kahmir Prescott, LB Jase Reynolds, LB Jacob Bower, and DL Gabe Moore. Two more Cornhuskers, TE Carter Nelson and LB Gage Stenger, are listed as doubtful.
Kick-off between Indiana and Nebraska is set for Noon ET on Saturday afternoon.
In Other News...
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Purdues trip to Minnesota arrives with a little more edge than a typical late-season road game, because the Boilermakers are trying to protect the momentum they built in their previous outing. Around the beat, the matchup has drawn a range of takes from staffers who have watched both teams closely, and the common thread is that this one feels tighter and trickier than the last test. Minnesota brings enough familiarity and physicality to make Purdue earn everything, which is why the conversation has centered on how the Boilermakers handle the challenge away from home.
The staff predictions reflect that unease, with the game projected as one that could go either way rather than a comfortable Purdue answer. Several picks lean toward a narrow Boilermaker win, but at least one forecast lands with Minnesota, underscoring how little separation there appears to be entering the weekend. One of the more intriguing angles also involves Fame Ijeboi facing his former team, a wrinkle that adds a little extra texture to a game Purdue would still like to treat as just another step forward. [Read more 🡒]
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On the other side of the ball, Purdue will have to be sharper with its protection and far more efficient once it gets inside scoring range. Minnesotas front has already been disruptive this season, and Purdue cannot afford to let pressure derail drives or force the offense into settling when touchdowns are there to be had. The Boilermakers have moved the ball well enough to create chances, now they need to turn those trips into the kind of finishes that can actually change a conference game. [Read more 🡒]