2026 IUFB Season

[Banksyrules]

Coach Cig said that chapter three starts now. Spring ball is around the corner and the quest to win back to back championships should make for a fun year. Let’s discuss and go Hoosiers!

[Pagoda]

On January 27 (Tues) at 5:30PM ET on BTN the B1G conference will release the 2026 conference game dates.  

For anyone new to this, we know who we play, just not what dates we play them.  The one exception is for promo purposes it was announced early that the OSU game is Oct. 17th.

[OliviaPope40]

Josh Hoover better be the real deal. 

[Jeff Flabjohns]

https://www.thedailyhoosier.com/iu-football-position-by-position-look-at-anticipated-2026-roster-changes/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPge_RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeTqO8lElcEAZ-s0Zgtsythsam_5fRZtK8Frv3kJEOIgpd3fuUsHI8OA2xpl8_aem_hef1NCVqGf_zw6AwArVhQQ
 

Good to keep this link here for next years roster make-up

[Hovadipo]

2 hours ago, Pagoda said:

On January 27 (Tues) at 5:30PM ET on BTN the B1G conference will release the 2026 conference game dates.  

For anyone new to this, we know who we play, just not what dates we play them.  The one exception is for promo purposes it was announced early that the OSU game is Oct. 17th.

There’s a “leaked” Michigan schedule out. If true we go to Ann Arbor the week after OSU. 

[Brass Cannon]

37 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

There’s a “leaked” Michigan schedule out. If true we go to Ann Arbor the week after OSU. 

That’s some BS. To expand didn’t they do this to us in 2024.  

[AKHoosier]

12 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

That’s some BS 

For real, how many times were we the "get right" game for either Michigan or Ohio State the week before their game against one another?

B1G just can't help themselves.

[Brass Cannon]

I took a look at the schedule of the teams that could potentially contend for a title.  I know thats rich coming from an IU fan but it is what it is

Penn State	Indiana	Oregon	USC	Michigan	Ohio State
AT Washington	AT Michigan	AT USC	AT Penn State	AT Oregon	AT USC
AT Michigan	AT Washington	AT OSU	AT Indiana	AT Ohio State	AT Indiana
Home USC	Home Ohio State	AT Illinois	Home Oregon	Home Oklahoma	AT Texas
	Home USC	Home Michigan	Home OSU	Home Iowa	AT Iowa
			Home Washington	Home Indiana	Home Michigan
					Home Illinois
			* Non Con Not Scheduled

 

Looks to me like Penn State has the easiest path to the CFP and the Big Ten Championship game.  They literally have the same difficult games as us, without OSU coming to town.  

Oregon has 3 really tough road games.  Losing 2 would make them eligible for the CFP but no Big Ten Championship likely

USC and Michigan both have 5 seemingly tough games.  With 2 on the road.  Michigan has one thats in the non conference which could affect CFP.  

OSU is in a tough spot.  They have to go to Texas, then have 5 tricky Conference games afterwards.  They can't go 50/50 and 4 of their 6 games are on the road.  

And saving the best for last, but literally and figuratively your INDIANA HOOSIERS play 

 

USC and OSU at Home.  Should be favored and I really dont think USC is gonna be all that good but they do have the pieces to be good.   Then IU has to go to Michigan and Washington. Washington I don't think is gonna be that great.  And cig knows how to take the team out West.  Michigan is the big wildcard.  New Coach, but lets not forget he was forced out at this last school because they knew going 8-4 wasn't going to be good enough in the new world of college football.  

I didn't include Washington or Illinois on this list just because they are on so many of these schedules.  View them more as a team good enough to play spoiler.  

Overall like our chances to get back to the Big Ten Championship.  Who we would play will depend on if OSU can run a gauntlet after their cakewalk this year.  Or if Michigan or Penn State can gel like a Cignetti team.  

[Banksyrules]

I’m actually ok with Michigan right after they play OSU. It’s hard to be emotionally invested in back to back games. Michigan would rather beat OSU than us. If we score early it could be over early.

[Banksyrules]

Right now I’m hoping Miami doesn’t get their QB.

Order of teams that I’m worried over.

1. miami

2.Oregon 

3.OSU 

4. Georgia 

[Hovadipo]

12 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

I’m actually ok with Michigan right after they play OSU. It’s hard to be emotionally invested in back to back games. Michigan would rather beat OSU than us. If we score early it could be over early.

It’s the week after we play OSU. OSU Mich is game 12 every year now. 

[Brass Cannon]

12 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

I’m actually ok with Michigan right after they play OSU. It’s hard to be emotionally invested in back to back games. Michigan would rather beat OSU than us. If we score early it could be over early.

Michigan won’t even be thinking about OSU.  They won’t play them for 5 weeks 

[Banksyrules]

3 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Michigan won’t even be thinking about OSU.  They won’t play them for 5 weeks 

Ah my bad 

[AZ Hoosier]

42 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

Right now I’m hoping Miami doesn’t get their QB.

Order of teams that I’m worried over.

1. miami

2.Oregon 

3.OSU 

4. Georgia 

On the plus side, this is a massive difference (upgrade) from our football worries 3 years ago. It's good to be Indiana!

[Josh]

Man I can't even think about Chapter 3 yet.  I just keep reading Chapter 2 over and over

[Banksyrules]

9 minutes ago, Josh said:

Man I can't even think about Chapter 3 yet.  I just keep reading Chapter 2 over and over

Blame Coach Cig. Man is all business. It’s Dolson’s fault for not telling him to take couple days off. Let’s gooooooooo

[OliviaPope40]

17 minutes ago, Josh said:

Man I can't even think about Chapter 3 yet.  I just keep reading Chapter 2 over and over

[Brass Cannon]

27 minutes ago, Banksyrules said:

Blame Coach Cig. Man is all business. It’s Dolson’s fault for not telling him to take couple days off. Let’s gooooooooo

I heard a story once when Saban called a meeting the day after winning the NC. 
 

And he started it with “There’s no nice way to put this, we are behind for next year”. 

[WayneFleekHoosier]

My order of Dauntedness for next years schedule. 
 

1. @Michigan

2. OSU

3. @Washington

4. @Nebraska

5. USC

Thats my list and I’m sticking to it. 

[Brass Cannon]

7 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

My order of Dauntedness for next years schedule. 
 

1. @Michigan

2. OSU

3. @Washington

4. @Nebraska

5. USC

Thats my list and I’m sticking to it. 

Big question I have for @michigan is how red will that crowd be. If they have some early set backs against Oklahoma and Oregon that could be a very dejected fanbase looking to make a buck on tickets