IUFB vs Minnesota - Saturday, 10.31.26 @ 3:30 on CBS-TV -- GAME THREAD

[LamarCheeks]

What I can't figure out ... 

I would assume Hoover does well in practice. Granted, practice is very different from a game -- but if he were overthrowing receivers by 5 feet on 80% of his throws in practice, he wouldn't play on Saturdays. At least I would hope not. 

So, does he get the yips and forget his mechanics during games? Is the game-day pressure too much? Is he too hyped up? 

I'm just flummoxed. 

[KingPG21]

Any updates on injuries? Started to see some pop up more yesterday. Hardy, Harris, and  Turbo all dealt with things. Hoover is clearly hurt, don't think he should just be the guy but the way Cig talks he still is. Chandler missed the game. 

[RaceToTheTop]

3 hours ago, str8baller said:

That stinks. I couldn’t tell from TV if people were booing or it was more of one of those things where the crowd collectively groans over a bad play. Sad to hear it is the former. It’s actually hard to imagine.

I was at the game and it was definitely boos.  Three players in particular -- Hoover, Gowers, and Niko.  Worst boos were definitely aimed toward Hoover, particularly on the last drive before half when he bounced three passes.

[go iu bb]

3 hours ago, Home Jersey said:

My issue is more with the idea that people in this thread were saying they "hope Cig gets killed for this" and just constantly cutting the guy who took the losingest program in CFB to an undefeated natty 0 slack. Lunatic stuff. Mistakes happen, but to doubt the man's game management is just comedy to me. He has lost 3 games in 3 years here. I'm not so quick to boo at frustrating play against that backdrop. Do agree we eventually need to turn the corner on being the little engine that could. 

Some of the posts in this thread are crazy. Even though they aren't playing the best football ever, they still have only 1 loss on the season and are one foot landing several inches over from being undefeated. Cig turned the program around over night and not only has a national championship but only has 3 losses in his time at IU. He's not infallible or above criticism, nor are the players, but some people here go way overboard. I think he has earned at least some leniency.

[RaceToTheTop]

1 hour ago, Demo said:

1st time I’ve seen this angle. Jesus, that’s good from, what, 68, something like that? And the Minny kid’s was the same. They made those look like they just weren’t that big a deal. Insane. 

Good view of the kick.  I was at the game and didn't realize he had cleared it by that much.

You could see at that point Minnesota looked defeated.  Whole body language changed.

[TheWatShot]

Seeing Hoover side-arming throws yesterday has me thinking his shoulder is more injured than we're being led to believe. 

 

I'm having flashbacks to when Andrew Luck injured his shoulder during a game, continued to play through it, missed the rest of the season due to a different injury, came back the next year and continued throwing with an injured shoulder, then finally got surgery after that season ended, and had to go overseas for treatment because by then it was so badly worn down. 

 

I hope the staff knows what they're doing with Hoover if there's something wrong with his shoulder. 

[Aaron]

All of the following can be true:

1.  Some of the questioning of Cig is over the top and 99% of what he does has been amazing and he has installed belief in this program in way no one ever has and just wins like he says.

2. There is 1% of Cig that is not great and that is his timeout usage during games and has been a three year issue we have gladly overlooked. However, last night it finally had a light shined on that and almost cost them. When you are facing a future NFL kicker who is the best you have seen since Dominic Zvada for Michigan in 2024 who is now kicking for Giants, you don't ever assume he is going to miss and you call timeout immediately. Finally, you can't assume officials will ever stop the clock and have to watch scoreboard to double check the moment IU lines up.

Bottom line is we couldn't be luckier to have Cig and 99% of what he does is gold. However, its also OK to say that the 1% with timeout usage is an issue and he mis-evaluated his QB this season by bringing Hoover in. Healthy or not, he was wrong choice and current shoulder/wrist issue has only made it worse. Don't know yet if Wilson is answer but looked fine in second half. Just not sure once game planned for if he will be good.

Team is championship good except at kicker, punter, and QB and unfortunately those are three important positions. I am open to trying Wilson and McAteer full time (note Hoosiers have no other punter listed on roster) but can't say if they will be better in extended time.

Radidic situation is just unfortunate and Cig did nothing wrong here whether he is injured or has yips and was reliable till this season. The evaluation though at QB and punter were missed this offseason and hopefully something Cig has learned from as first evaluation misses of his three year tenure which is an amazing track record.

[AH1971]

Didn’t Radicic have an injury leading up to the Rutgers game that had home sidelined for a week? And then immediately miss a chip shot as well as an extra point? 

[Pagoda]

Just now, AH1971 said:

Didn’t Radicic have an injury leading up to the Rutgers game that had home sidelined for a week? And then immediately miss a chip shot as well as an extra point? 

Yes.  Rib or back flare up.  I’m guessing that messed with his mechanics and he clearly hasn’t got back to normal.

[Loaded Chicken Sandwich]

Basically 2 weeks to get rested and healthy. 

 

Also 2 weeks to figure out something on offense. Whatever we've been doing, isn't going to work. Have to make a change. Honestly with how weak the OLine has been, great time to speed up the offense a little. I get the RPO is what they want to love and die by but this offense has been absolutely horrid. Getting the ball out quicker passing would be a huge help. Especially if Hoover is going to play. Let him get into a rhythm by just hitting some shorter, quicker reads. Maybe open up the running game by allowing the passing game to flourish instead of vice versa. Would be a great time for a 2013ish style Kevin Wilson offense to get shown at times. Right now it's 100% and pure Walt Bell 2.0. 

 

Special teams... Might be a complete loss. 

[IUHoosierJoe]

19 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Basically 2 weeks to get rested and healthy. 

 

Also 2 weeks to figure out something on offense. Whatever we've been doing, isn't going to work. Have to make a change. Honestly with how weak the OLine has been, great time to speed up the offense a little. I get the RPO is what they want to love and die by but this offense has been absolutely horrid. Getting the ball out quicker passing would be a huge help. Especially if Hoover is going to play. Let him get into a rhythm by just hitting some shorter, quicker reads. Maybe open up the running game by allowing the passing game to flourish instead of vice versa. Would be a great time for a 2013ish style Kevin Wilson offense to get shown at times. Right now it's 100% and pure Walt Bell 2.0. 

 

Special teams... Might be a complete loss. 

Comparing this offense to Walt Bell’s might be the worst take in the history of message boards. Didn’t take this fanbase long to get completely spoiled. 

[Hoosier987]

A few things about this game. Way to go Paddy! I loved seeing the post game celebration in the locker room on social media. That was a tremendous kick and frankly, may have been good from 65. I think we need to seriously consider having Paddy as our # 1FG kicker moving forward. Radicic just doesn't have it it this year...whether it's an injury, mental, or a combination of both, something is off. Special teams as a whole was ugly. This needs to get fixed during the bye week.

Our defense is special. Those guys are dudes and are the reason why we continue to win close games (minus OSU)

Offense has to be figured out, and quickly and a lot of it stems from the QB play...simply put, QB position is weak at the moment. I pose the same question with Hoover as I do with Radicic....is it injury, is it mental? Seems like a combo of both.  Will be interesting to see who Cig goes with against USC...maybe a combo of Wilson and Hoover? Wilson made a couple of great throws, and I love his mobility, however, he put the ball in danger at least 2 different times where each one could've lead to an interception that would've likely sealed the game. The reality of the situation is, whether Hoover or Wilson start, I'm not sold on either one making a significant difference. Take that as you will.

Clock management. I agree with others...the non use of the timeout prior to Minn kicking the FG was a head scratcher. Frankly, borderline shocking. When were we planning to use them? I still don't understand why we didn't take. We got lucky there...and frankly, if not for the great Wilson/Becker connection and Paddy's heroics, Cig's poor clock management would be a national talking point this morning.

The bye week is badly needed. Team looks tired and has made mental mistakes. 

All that said, we're 8-1 going into the bye and still have everything in front of us. We have a winning culture and that is a skill. Let's rest up, get healthy and come out of this bye week looking better than ever before. 

 

[KingPG21]

Be cool to come out of the bye week we trying something in the return game. Our special teams isn't just Nico, or out punter. We haven't had a return game since they lost confidence in Morris. Our execution in just attempting kicks has been bad this year too 

[BtownStrength]

49 minutes ago, Loaded Chicken Sandwich said:

Basically 2 weeks to get rested and healthy. 

 

Also 2 weeks to figure out something on offense. Whatever we've been doing, isn't going to work. Have to make a change. Honestly with how weak the OLine has been, great time to speed up the offense a little. I get the RPO is what they want to love and die by but this offense has been absolutely horrid. Getting the ball out quicker passing would be a huge help. Especially if Hoover is going to play. Let him get into a rhythm by just hitting some shorter, quicker reads. Maybe open up the running game by allowing the passing game to flourish instead of vice versa. Would be a great time for a 2013ish style Kevin Wilson offense to get shown at times. Right now it's 100% and pure Walt Bell 2.0. 

 

Special teams... Might be a complete loss. 

I'm interested to hear more explanation on this statement. Do you mean schematically? Efficiency? Situational play calling? Because to me, although there is schematic overlap, the offensive philosophy is very different. 

[IU5355]

9 minutes ago, KingPG21 said:

Be cool to come out of the bye week we trying something in the return game. Our special teams isn't just Nico, or out punter. We haven't had a return game since they lost confidence in Morris. Our execution in just attempting kicks has been bad this year too 

Absolutely. Our offense is struggling and giving them bad field position because we wont catch or return punts is a problem. 

[go iu bb]

This guy sounds spiteful. I agree that IU probably should've taken a TO there but, man, I just can't get past the tone.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2026/10/31/curt-cignetti-indiana-football-clock-management-mistakes-minnesota-cfp-hoosiers/92542765007/

[BtownStrength]

4 minutes ago, go iu bb said:

This guy sounds spiteful. I agree that IU probably should've taken a TO there but, man, I just can't get past the tone.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/bigten/2026/10/31/curt-cignetti-indiana-football-clock-management-mistakes-minnesota-cfp-hoosiers/92542765007/

Matt Hayes is a Btown Banners member, confirmed.

[Hoosier987]

Another thing to note…I did not love Hoover’s body language. If he is healthy,  and gets the nod, we have to make sure his confidence is back. 

[skhoosier2]

2 minutes ago, Hoosier987 said:

Another thing to note…I did not love Hoover’s body language. If he is healthy,  and gets the nod, we have to make sure his confidence is back. 

He looks defeated. I feel like it bleeds into the receivers too. They look very frustrated with his accuracy problems. 

[BtownStrength]

13 hours ago, AH1971 said:

I’ll give Hoover the benefit of the doubt in the sense that he’s not 100% healthy, but he’s missed throws all year. His mechanics are terrible. He’s constantly dropping his elbow/shoulder causing balls to sail and his feet are almost never set. At some point Sunseri needs to feel some heat, Whitmer has been a huge loss as well.

You know ball. Throwing mechanics are so bad, and the feet are what really piss me off. Last year, Whitmer was able to clean up some small inconsistencies with footwork for Mendoza. Tino has not done the same for Hoover. Constantly throwing off back foot and the ball sails. Which sucks because Hoover has a strong arm and he is losing the leverage advantage. I have been less than impressed with Sunseri this season.