2026 IUFB Season

[Home Jersey]

2 minutes ago, rcbowla said:

Man, if Hoover can spin it this team is going to be fun to watch again. It's weird that we're in the middle of bball season and I can't wait for September. The earth has changed it's rotation and you won't convince me otherwise. Wild times. 

I feel confident enough in Hoover's arm. I haven't watched him enough to know what he's like as a runner... I know he has a ton of experience with RPO.

After the title game, a lot of TCU fans were saying they could never imagine Hoover running like Fernando did or even thinking / having the awareness to dive for the TD like Fernando did. Obviously that was a super play by a super player... but we've been really spoiled by extremely smart QBs these past two years. And Mendoza's mobility made a big difference compared to Rourke, who was awesome in his own right.

Obviously completely trust the staff and can't wait for next year. Should be another really fun one. Wild how CFP is the expectation in year 3. Cig is a miracle worker. 

[Pagoda]

8 minutes ago, rcbowla said:

Man, if Hoover can spin it this team is going to be fun to watch again. It's weird that we're in the middle of bball season and I can't wait for September. The earth has changed its rotation and you won't convince me otherwise. Wild times. 

I’m pretty optimistic looking at his stats, plus he is getting plugged into the system that consistently produces improvement.

[DChoosier]

6 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I’m pretty optimistic looking at his stats, plus he is getting plugged into the system that consistently produces improvement.

What was Hoovers grade last season at TCU?

[Brass Cannon]

7 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I’m pretty optimistic looking at his stats, plus he is getting plugged into the system that consistently produces improvement.

Any clue what Hoovers is currently?

[Home Jersey]

My quick google search (could be wrong) tells me Hoover in 2024 had a PFF grade of 83.4 and this year 76.7

[AKHoosier]

12 hours ago, 8bucks said:

One of the more entertaining trends the past week has been the degree to which both Notre Dame and Purdue fans like to call us "little brother".

Umm. Ok. Whatever helps you cope.

[Home Jersey]

15 minutes ago, AKHoosier said:

One of the more entertaining trends the past week has been the degree to which both Notre Dame and Purdue fans like to call us "little brother".

Umm. Ok. Whatever helps you cope.

Domers hate being reminded of the fact nobody under the age of 40 can recall them ever winning a championship in their lifetime. Kills them that IU of all places did it before them. That tickles me.

[AKHoosier]

44 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Domers hate being reminded of the fact nobody under the age of 40 can recall them ever winning a championship in their lifetime. Kills them that IU of all places did it before them. That tickles me.

It's hilarious how they try to claim a de facto national championship because they beat us last season, while ignoring the reality we beat the team they lost to THIS SEASON.

And if that isn't enough, Miami also beat Texas A&M, who beat Notre Dame this season too.

[Jeff Flabjohns]

With Omar headed to the league, I’m really excited to see what Morris gives us this year. Him and Bond will probably compete for kick-returns but Morris needs to be playing offense too 

[Home Jersey]

Seems possible to me we may be even better next year. Coming off a 16-0 National title season, that should be scary for everyone else. 

[Brass Cannon]

3 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Seems possible to me we may be even better next year. Coming off a 16-0 National title season, that should be scary for everyone else. 

Yep and frankly I think we have an easier schedule. 

[Stuhoo]

5 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yep and frankly I think we have an easier schedule. 

Easier schedules in February don't always translate to easier schedules in October. 

That having been said, Ohio State's schedule for next season looks like a complete back breaker.

[Brass Cannon]

1 minute ago, Stuhoo said:

Easier schedules in February don't always translate to easier schedules in October. 

That having been said, Ohio State's schedule for next season looks like a complete back breaker.

True. But our hardest game is almost certainly in Bloomington.  
 

And then our next 3 hardest games. Washington, Michigan and USC all have giant question marks.  
 

Let’s just say I think I’m going to buy big ten championship tickets and run the risk 

[Magnanimous]

Run this “ish” back. 

[J34]

6 hours ago, Pagoda said:

I’m pretty optimistic looking at his stats, plus he is getting plugged into the system that consistently produces improvement.

Great find! 

Thanks for sharing. 

[Pagoda]

I like where we stack up here.

 

[Hardwood83]

46 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

I like where we stack up here.

 

Cig is definitely a proponent of "get old & stay old" 

[Hardwood83]

2 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

Seems possible to me we may be even better next year. Coming off a 16-0 National title season, that should be scary for everyone else. 

Bold statement! I expect a down-grade at QB, DB and maybe special teams. Gonna miss Fischer at LB too. Not sure about WR. Comparable to possibly better everywhere else. What are you thinking? 

Wild cards are injuries and how other teams emerge. Big question is how hungry will they be. Cig will do his thing, but human nature is what it is.  

[Home Jersey]

10 minutes ago, Hardwood83 said:

Bold statement! I expect a down-grade at QB, DB and maybe special teams. Gonna miss Fischer at LB too. Not sure about WR. Comparable to possibly better everywhere else. What are you thinking? 

Wild cards are injuries and how other teams emerge. Big question is how hungry will they be. Cig will do his thing, but human nature is what it is.  

Just saying, we could be a better team and not necessarily have a better record than we did this year. QB is the big question mark for me from that perspective but by all accounts Hoover is a proven power conference player and has a lot of experience with RPO. So I think Cig will get the best out of him. And he's got a ton of weapons in the WR room with I think very solid backs (maybe not as good as this year's?).

I think it's possible we're better because our trenches on both sides of the ball are talented and pretty deep. We will definitely miss Fisher but I think Jones and Hardy will keep the unit more than solid. No replacing Ponds, but I think overall the secondary is pretty strong. Don't think we will see special teams take a step back given how much of a priority it was coming off the first year of Cig and how impactful they were for us.

Bottom line for me is the culture is in great shape, the program has ample resources, and most importantly... we didn't lose Cig, Haines, or Shanahan. So I expect the well-oiled machine to keep on humming. Fully expect the team to play as hungry as ever. Thats part of their identity... root out complacency (I doubt any exists in that locker room tbh). 

[Hardwood83]

12 minutes ago, Home Jersey said:

Just saying, we could be a better team and not necessarily have a better record than we did this year. QB is the big question mark for me from that perspective but by all accounts Hoover is a proven power conference player and has a lot of experience with RPO. So I think Cig will get the best out of him. And he's got a ton of weapons in the WR room with I think very solid backs (maybe not as good as this year's?).

I think it's possible we're better because our trenches on both sides of the ball are talented and pretty deep. We will definitely miss Fisher but I think Jones and Hardy will keep the unit more than solid. No replacing Ponds, but I think overall the secondary is pretty strong. Don't think we will see special teams take a step back given how much of a priority it was coming off the first year of Cig and how impactful they were for us.

Bottom line for me is the culture is in great shape, the program has ample resources, and most importantly... we didn't lose Cig, Haines, or Shanahan. So I expect the well-oiled machine to keep on humming. Fully expect the team to play as hungry as ever. Thats part of their identity... root out complacency (I doubt any exists in that locker room tbh). 

I get what you are saying, and agree the pieces are there. Both lines could be better, and the schedule is managable, not a bad place to start! Losing Mendoza is obviously the single biggest loss, but I am more worried about the Defense. Moore & Fischer leave huge voids, for their intangibles as much as their talent. 

True, the culture of winning and expectations are in place....at Indiana!