2026 IUFB: CHAPTER 3

[LIHoosier]

In spite of that WTF game, beating a CFB blue-blood away bumps IU to 4th in the Coaches poll

[realTomCrean]

 

[IU5355]

36 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

 

Hes only getting better too, it took him a few games to adjust to the scheme but he is really taking off. 

His twitch, burst and athleticism will carry over to the NFL nicely. Wouldnt be suprised to see him have a nice long career. 

[J34]

IU football has been ranked in the top 25 for 39 consecutive weeks, and ranked in the top ten for 21 consecutive weeks. 

Still hard to believe 

[Brass Cannon]

13 hours ago, J34 said:

IU football has been ranked in the top 25 for 39 consecutive weeks, and ranked in the top ten for 21 consecutive weeks. 

Still hard to believe 

Out of curiosity is that more than 50% of our total for both metrics?  Feels like it probably is 

[Lebowski]

On 10/20/2026 at 5:04 PM, Lebowski said:

Assuming IUFB runs the table, which is a very big assumption, we'll need to get in on a one loss tiebreaker

One loss tiebreakers
UCLA - Need them to lose to SC, Michigan, and/or Minny. 
O$U - at SC, Oregon, NW, at Nebraska, and Michigan is their remaining schedule. Without Sayin they will be heavily challenged. I will not be surprised if they slip up a game or two because it's not a cakewalk for them. Need them to lose two games, they hold the H2H tiebreaker. 
Iowa - Needs to run the table. Schedule is favorable for them but travels to Minny and NW. 
NW - We hold the tiebreaker H2H
SC - On the schedule play them 11/14, loser will be eliminated. 
Oregon - Needs to run the table with NW, at O$U and Michigan on the schedule
Wisconsin - Needs to run the table. SC, at Purdue, and Minny on the schedule. Toughest game is at Iowa. 
Minny - play them 10/31 loser will be eliminated. 

Iowa might be the team that slips in over us if I had to guess. 

I don't foresee a two conference loss team playing the championship game.

Three down, four more to go. 

Hoover's injury is concerning. A gritty game up in Ann Arbor but that's not sustainable. 

And finally...
The major difference this year over the last two for the IUFB offense is not involving the TE more. Against UM, one target to the TE that turned out to be a huge catch. They've got to figure out a way to start targeting that position more. 

[Brass Cannon]

5 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Three down, four more to go. 

Hoover's injury is concerning. A gritty game up in Ann Arbor but that's not sustainable. 

And finally...
The major difference this year over the last two for the IUFB offense is not involving the TE more. Against UM, one target to the TE that turned out to be a huge catch. They've got to figure out a way to start targeting that position more. 

We need to root for Carr to really figure things out and just dominate UCLA and OSU. 

[68Hoosier]

1 minute ago, Brass Cannon said:

We need to root for Carr to really figure things out and just dominate UCLA and OSU. 

I was at the game Saturday.  He looks good on the run, Held the ball a bit too long a few times.  Overall, he has the tools, but the line has to give him some more time in the pocket.  

[Lebowski]

7 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

We need to root for Carr to really figure things out and just dominate UCLA and OSU. 

Personally, I don't even think he needs to figure out too much. His D is solid. If UM's D plays decent and Sayin isn't playing, O$U will be heavily challenged. I also think this weekend against SC will let all of us know about the QB situation. While Fahey is traveling back home he's still a freshman and getting Smith touches should be fun to see how SC tries to prevent that from happening. 

UCLA will have to deal the with traveling to Minny next week before they travel to UM in late November. 

[Brass Cannon]

20 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Personally, I don't even think he needs to figure out too much. His D is solid. If UM's D plays decent and Sayin isn't playing, O$U will be heavily challenged. I also think this weekend against SC will let all of us know about the QB situation. While Fahey is traveling back home he's still a freshman and getting Smith touches should be fun to see how SC tries to prevent that from happening. 

UCLA will have to deal the with traveling to Minny next week before they travel to UM in late November. 

True.  Hopefully we hand them a loss so Minny is extra hungry 

[Jeff Flabjohns]

1 hour ago, Lebowski said:

Three down, four more to go. 

Hoover's injury is concerning. A gritty game up in Ann Arbor but that's not sustainable. 

And finally...
The major difference this year over the last two for the IUFB offense is not involving the TE more. Against UM, one target to the TE that turned out to be a huge catch. They've got to figure out a way to start targeting that position more. 

I don’t think they trust Hoover throwing over the middle…worried those off-target throws will be picked. 

Rourke was a master of those slant routes. Made them look easy. Mendoza obviously could do it all. 

[Lebowski]

1 hour ago, Jeff Flabjohns said:

I don’t think they trust Hoover throwing over the middle…worried those off-target throws will be picked. 

Rourke was a master of those slant routes. Made them look easy. Mendoza obviously could do it all. 

Well, they're gonna have to figure out something. I thought they were on to something during the Nebraska game. Gibbs got a couple of catches and I think another TE was targeted. I mean, TE doesn't always have to run a seam route down the middle. 

[AZ Hoosier]

13 minutes ago, Lebowski said:

Well, they're gonna have to figure out something. I thought they were on to something during the Nebraska game. Gibbs got a couple of catches and I think another TE was targeted. I mean, TE doesn't always have to run a seam route down the middle. 

Maybe it's just me, but Shanahan seems to have lost the creative side. Our offensive schemes (see what I did there?) seem to be quite predictable this season.

[skhoosier2]

3 hours ago, 68Hoosier said:

I was at the game Saturday.  He looks good on the run, Held the ball a bit too long a few times.  Overall, he has the tools, but the line has to give him some more time in the pocket.  

I was also there and was impressed by him. He’s a freshman so he was going to have a rough day against an elite defense but he made some nice plays and he was poised in the pocket. Offensive line is an issue and play calling especially on the goal line was horrendous. If they can find an OC, I think he’s going to be really good in the future. 

[skhoosier2]

1 hour ago, Lebowski said:

Well, they're gonna have to figure out something. I thought they were on to something during the Nebraska game. Gibbs got a couple of catches and I think another TE was targeted. I mean, TE doesn't always have to run a seam route down the middle. 

I agree on this. I understand this offense is predicated on running with TE blocking, but I really do think Schott can be a weapon and they need to figure out how to involve him more. Miami recruited him for a reason. He can help our offense if given the chance. I hope he sticks around after this season because he truly could end up being special if they find a way to get him the ball. 

[realTomCrean]

CFB talking heads speculating a shoulder or broken rib for Hoover

[ronzo4IU]

2 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

CFB talking heads speculating a shoulder or broken rib for Hoover

I can't imagine how he even played if it is a rib....ouch

[TheWatShot]

6 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

CFB talking heads speculating a shoulder or broken rib for Hoover

He kept grabbing his shoulder during the second half of the OSU game. 

 

I actually suggested pulling him if he was hurt because a close loss wasn't going to hurt us in the long run, and potentially losing him for the season if he kept playing was a much more dangerous option. 

[skhoosier2]

3 hours ago, realTomCrean said:

CFB talking heads speculating a shoulder or broken rib for Hoover

BuyGame Tickets

 

Tough to play through either so I give him major props. Rourke played through the ACL which was unbelievable with what he accomplished that season. Hope Hoover heals up. We need him for the stretch run. 

[realTomCrean]

Don Fischer confirms shoulder injury