2026 IUFB: CHAPTER 3

[Pagoda]

51 minutes ago, realTomCrean said:

Don Fischer confirms shoulder injury

 

Mild shoulder separations heal on their own in 2-6 weeks.  Maybe that’s what’s going on since Cig says it should improve.  Just a guess.

Also Fisch needs to keep the injury details in house!  lol

[realTomCrean]

21 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

Mild shoulder separations heal on their own in 2-6 weeks.  Maybe that’s what’s going on since Cig says it should improve.  Just a guess.

Also Fisch needs to keep the injury details in house!  lol

I thought the same thing when I heard Fisch say it haha

If it’s 2-6 weeks I’d really love to see him sit this week and get 2 straight weeks of treatment without any ware. Obviously Cig is going to play his players and Hoover is a warrior. He’ll be 100% in time for the CFP!

[RaceToTheTop]

On 10/26/2026 at 3:46 PM, realTomCrean said:

CFB talking heads speculating a shoulder or broken rib for Hoover

BuyGame Tickets

 

If talking heads are saying it's a shoulder or broken rib, then they were just guessing.  It's not like those two injuries are related.  Anyway, I think everybody assumed it was a shoulder injury from the way he was reacting in the Ohio State game.

[Jeff Flabjohns]

On 10/26/2026 at 1:43 PM, 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. 

Was listening to a pod this morning that said there’s internet chatter that Hoover has a messed up AC joint from OSU game. This changes his throwing mechanics to be less over-the-top and makes it harder to hit slants or up the seam. 
All speculation, but something to watch for Saturday. 

[skhoosier2]

1 hour ago, Jeff Flabjohns said:

Was listening to a pod this morning that said there’s internet chatter that Hoover has a messed up AC joint from OSU game. This changes his throwing mechanics to be less over-the-top and makes it harder to hit slants or up the seam. 
All speculation, but something to watch for Saturday. 

That's what was speculated for Sayin but there's varying degrees of AC injuries, and Sayin clearly worse off than Hoover.  They were hoping for that, but I think Sayin is UCL.  Definitely something to watch for.

[Stuhoo]

For the next time someone posts that Klatt does not respect IU, here are his current college football playoff projections:

 

[AZ Hoosier]

I have a couple of concerns about this year's team. They've managed to squeak out a couple of close ones in OT. They lost to O$U by 6" when Marsh was not able to get his foot down inbounds.

And as challenging as USC can be, the team that concerns me most of all is little brother. They're playing somewhat better this year, and with all of our offensive struggles lately, I can't shake the feeling of doom. There's nothing that would make them happier than to play the role of spoiler to our 3rd straight playoff berth. The saving grace is that the game is in Bloomington... but still...

Never daunted... well, almost.

[skhoosier2]

1 hour ago, AZ Hoosier said:

I have a couple of concerns about this year's team. They've managed to squeak out a couple of close ones in OT. They lost to O$U by 6" when Marsh was not able to get his foot down inbounds.

And as challenging as USC can be, the team that concerns me most of all is little brother. They're playing somewhat better this year, and with all of our offensive struggles lately, I can't shake the feeling of doom. There's nothing that would make them happier than to play the role of spoiler to our 3rd straight playoff berth. The saving grace is that the game is in Bloomington... but still...

TryNew Games

 

Never daunted... well, almost.

More worried about going out to Washington. Purdue is at home. We will beat them. We cannot afford 1 loss if we want to make the CFP and hope to get to Indy. I think Cig will try to go back to Hoover at some point but understands he really needs to roll out whoever can move the offense and get the win. I think he needs to roll with Wilson for at least USC then evaluate from there. 

[Stuhoo]

On 8/28/2026 at 8:26 AM, Stuhoo said:

15-1.

• Grant Wilson is forced into extensive big game duty and he is a revelation. As in, national news level revelation. Grant Wilson is way, way, WAY more talented than you think, especially from the neck up. And he can run. 

National Champions.

Some of my season predictions were off, but I got the Wilson one covered.

Hoping I’m right on these other two—got a fighting chance and 15-1=champs.

[Jeff Flabjohns]

They need to finish out this year with Wilson. 

[Brass Cannon]

9 hours ago, Stuhoo said:

Some of my season predictions were off, but I got the Wilson one covered.

Hoping I’m right on these other two—got a fighting chance and 15-1=champs.

If Wilson can just hit the open guys without falling off we should be solid. 
 

In my wildest dreams I never expected us to have WRs open so consistently which is why it’s been so frustrating all year our QB missing them. 

[OliviaPope40]

If these guys do walk into my building this weekend or any other time my job precludes me from handing out information like it's left over Halloween candy for breakfast. 

[DChoosier]

 

I have read three “projected AP top 25” articles. All three mention IU’s poor resume with the best wins being Northwestern and Nebraska.

All three have Notre Dame ranked above us and NONE of them mention that ND has beaten NO ONE. 
 

Never stops being irritating.

[BtownStrength]

41 minutes ago, DChoosier said:

 

 

I have read three “projected AP top 25” articles. All three mention IU’s poor resume with the best wins being Northwestern and Nebraska.

IndianaHoosiers merchandise

 

All three have Notre Dame ranked above us and NONE of them mention that ND has beaten NO ONE. 
 

Never stops being irritating.

We should just expect that anyone writing these articles does not know ball. They go off of brand recognition and number of losses alone. 

That said, I can see us being anywhere from #3 to #6 on Tuesday when the first meaningful rankings come on Tuesday. 

[skhoosier2]

1 hour ago, DChoosier said:

 

 

I have read three “projected AP top 25” articles. All three mention IU’s poor resume with the best wins being Northwestern and Nebraska.

IndianaHoosiers merchandise

 

All three have Notre Dame ranked above us and NONE of them mention that ND has beaten NO ONE. 
 

Never stops being irritating.

It’s annoying but we have looked very shaky since starting conference play. Our defense is elite and the only reason we continue to win games. This has got to be the most inconsistent team of Cig’s last several including JMU. I won’t be surprised to see us drop out of top 5 in the polls and come in at 5 or 6 in the CFP. Our offense cannot do anything even against bad teams. 
If they continue to roll with Josh, I think Shanahan and Cig need to scheme the offense to what Josh is most comfortable in. The current offense isn’t working for him. He’s slow processing reads, making the wrong reads at inopportune times, and sailing passes/throwing behind open receivers. He’s hurt clearly but his accuracy issues were a problem before OSU. I think the committee will continue to punish us for our offensive performance regardless of how many games we win. Honestly as much as I’m happy we continue to find a way, I don’t think we look like a top 5 TEAM. Defense looks top 2. 

[Pagoda]

Top notch guy.  He’s got a lot of the Fernando attitude.  

 

[skhoosier2]

15 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

Top notch guy.  He’s got a lot of the Fernando attitude.  

 

Really happy for him. He’s the ultimate teammate and the guys seem to love him. 

[Lebowski]

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

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. 

Five down, three to go. Currently holding on to 2nd place in the conference due to overall record. O$U adds a loss. UCLA travels to Minny this weekend. 

 

[Jeff Flabjohns]

CBS at 3:30 again vs USC

[Old Friend]

Theory based on watching....

Hoover's hurt.  I think that's universal...we get that.  But...  TCU's offense is more "react" with automatic reads.  If this look, throw here.   If THIS look, throw there. etc.    Indiana more traditional read option and the QB has to be a threat to pull it (or the ends crash inside and running backs have nowhere to bounce it and frequently get taken down from behind between the tackles).  Hoover ran for - (negative) 10 yards in his TCU career.  Mendoza carried for 297 yards last season on 56 carries.  Hoover always handed it off....never kept it until Michigan on the read option and when he did, he tripped.  His throws - in this theory because they're from a genuine read, not an automatic read - have been sometimes tentative. To me, his entire game looked tentative; even if "efficient" by the numbers. 

Maybe he's just not the fit for this offense Cig thought he was, but he has been "good enough" to stand behind until Saturday?   If we stay with Wilson and he fits the offense better, we may be a tough get for anyone because we all know if we give that defense 21 points, it'll take a hell of an effort to kill Indiana.   28 and nobody in the country will do it.

Am I crazy?