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Indiana running back Turbo Richard fights for more yards against Howard on September 12, 2026 (Photo: James Cocherell/Peegs.com)   BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Indiana Hoosiers moved to 2-0 in the 2026 season by defeating Howard, 55-0. IU entered the game as eight-touchdown favorites against the FCS school and dominated from the opening kickoff. After a gloomy start to the day, the sun broke through a half hour before kickoff, and then Turbo Richard nearly broke the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The return game has been a strength for the Hoosiers early in the season. Richard took the first one back 36 yards, giving Indiana excellent starting field position. Following a few successful runs, Josh Hoover found Charlie Becker for a 34-yard touchdown pass down the left side. Becker gained a step but had to adjust to the ball to make a contested, acrobatic touchdown catch. After Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. ran the ball down Howard's throat, Becker made a quick slant for his second touchdown of the season. Becker already has five touchdown catches on the young season. Hoover threw for four touchdowns on six completions in the win over Howard after excelling in the last week's opener with 231 yards and four touchdowns. Paddy McAteer missed the extra point, so Indiana's lead was only 13-0 with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Through three drives, the Hoosiers had 138 yards rushing on 14 carries. They finished with 296 rushing yards on the day. With 1:34 remaining in the first quarter, Hoover found Shazz Preston streaking completely open for a 39-yard touchdown reception. In the first period, Hoover only completed three passes, but they were all touchdowns. Indiana punted for the second time this season on the fourth possession. Hoover threw two incomplete passes, leading to a fourth-and-long for the Hoosiers. IU hit a bit of a stall in the second quarter on both sides of the ball, but Hoover found Becker on a 9-yard pass, and the third-year receiver enabled the afterburners to go the final 32 yards. Becker's third touchdown of the half put Indiana up 27-0 with 6:07 on the clock. On Howard's third-and-eight play of the following drive, Josh Burnham came around the edge to hit Ja'Shawn Scroggins as he threw, allowing Rolijah Hardy to pick off the wobbling pass and return it 19 yards for a touchdown. After a few penalties by both sides, Richard took a draw handoff 14 yards by making numerous moves to score his third touchdown of the season. Grant Wilson replaced Hoover at the beginning of the third quarter and led an extended 9-play, 68-yard touchdown drive. Wilson found Davion Chandler running toward the right side of the end zone for the pass and catch. After Howard's seventh punt of the afternoon, Wilson found Nick Marsh by himself sprinting down the center of the field for a 51-yard passing touchdown. Indiana's lead reached 55-0 at that point with 6:03 left in the third period. Entering the fourth, both teams agreed to shorten the quarter to ten minutes. In blowout games, this is becoming more common in college football. Tyler Cherry and the third-string offense finished the game for the Hoosiers. IU plays Western Kentucky next week to finish the non-conference schedule.