Curt Cignetti enters his third season at Indiana after leading the Hoosiers to the 2025 national championship. Indiana must replace quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who departed for the NFL, along with Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black in the backfield and seven of its top eight receivers from last season. Mike Shanahan returns as offensive coordinator. TCU transfer Josh Hoover joins the program at quarterback. Khobie Martin returns, and Lee Beebe Jr. is back after averaging approximately 70 rushing yards per game in three appearances last season. Boston College transfer Turbo Richard also joins the group. Charlie Becker is the lone returner from the receiving group, while Tyler Morris also returns after missing the 2025 season, and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh joins the receiving corps. The offensive line returns three full-time starters in Carter Smith, Bray Lynch, and Drew Evans after making 16, 16, and 12 starts, respectively. Wisconsin transfer Joe Brunner joins the group after making 11 starts last season.
Indiana returns six of its top eleven tacklers from last season, including leading tackler Rolijah Hardy. The defensive front returns full-time starters Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino after making 16 and 11 starts, respectively, while Keilan Wyatt and Stephen Daley return after making seven and six starts. Kansas State transfers Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi also join after making seven and five starts, respectively. Hardy and Isaiah Jones return at linebacker, while Jamari Sharpe and Amare Ferrell return in the secondary.
Nico Radicic returns at placekicker, while Indiana will feature new primary kickoff- and punt-returners following the departures of Jonathan Brady and Roman Hemby. Indiana enters 2026 as the defending national champion with a new quarterback, considerable turnover in the receiving corps, and losses that include Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, and seven of its top eight players in receiving production, but returns three full-time starters along the offensive line and six of its top eleven tacklers on defense.