On September 25, 2026, the No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers narrowly defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 29-23 in a contentious Big Ten opener, highlighted by standout performances and a controversial officiating decision.
Indiana University's football team achieved a decisive 55-0 victory over Howard University on September 12, 2026, in Bloomington, improving their season record to 2-0. The game featured standout performances from quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Charlie Becker, with the defense maintaining a shutout. The fourth quarter was shortened due to extreme heat conditions.
The No. 24 Louisville Cardinals defeated the Villanova Wildcats 41-13 in their home opener, with quarterback Lincoln Kienholz leading the offense with 307 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 69 rushing yards.
Louisville running back Isaac Brown is set to return for the season opener against No. 9 Ole Miss after recovering from an injury that limited his fall practice participation.
Indiana wide receiver Nick Marsh made a stunning one-handed touchdown catch in his debut, helping the Hoosiers take an early lead over North Texas and drawing widespread attention.