⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Curt Cignetti said Indiana kicker Nico Radicic missed the Howard game after waking Thursday with a pull in his rib cage. He said the replacement missed the first attempt but was good afterward. The interview provides the reason for that game's absence, not a confirmed return date or clearance for the next opponent. - Indiana recorded 12 tackles for loss and five sacks against Howard. Cignetti said the rush became difficult to block, though finishing tackles on the quarterback initially needed work. He approved using four defensive ends together on some third-and-long snaps, citing the staff's effort to maximize personnel; that does not make it a new every-down front. - Cignetti said Nick Marsh and Shazz Preston rotated more at the left receiver position against Howard, with Marsh also playing some on the right. He included them among the leading receiver group and praised Charlie Becker's preparation, explosiveness and special-teams work. The late-game snaps did not, by themselves, announce a demotion or new depth-chart order. - Indiana gave both backup quarterbacks game action. Cignetti praised Grant's runs and two touchdown passes, along with his value as an experienced backup and teammate; Tyler missed his first two throws before completing one. Cignetti demanded better execution on those misses but did not announce a change to Josh Hoover's starting role. - Cignetti liked Indiana's ability to repeatedly hand off and sustain an early drive against Howard, while warning that Big Ten rushing yards will be harder to earn and depend on line, tight-end and perimeter blocking. Both coaches agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to 10 minutes, an important limit when interpreting this blowout's raw production.

- Indiana starting CBs Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris were sidelined entering Howard week. The preview says either could return as soon as this game, but also suggests Indiana might allow another recovery week. It does not confirm that either cornerback is cleared or ruled out for Howard. - Indiana RB Khobie Martin is expected to remain out until at least midseason after breaking bones in his forearm, according to the preview. Unlike the cornerbacks' possible near-term returns, the article describes a longer absence for Martin; it does not give a firm return date. - The Indiana preview identifies missed tackles and coverage busts against North Texas as issues to correct, despite allowing only one offensive touchdown. Howard's mobile quarterback adds an edge-containment test. The writer expects a fairly basic defensive approach against the FCS opponent, not a confirmed change in Bryant Haines' play-calling. - If Indiana builds a comfortable lead, the writer expects reserve QBs Grant Wilson and Tyler Cherry to handle much of the second half against Howard. That is a conditional development opportunity behind Josh Hoover, who threw four touchdowns against North Texas, not an announced quarterback rotation or a fixed starter snap limit.

- Indiana corner Jaylen Bell played 55 of 71 defensive snaps against North Texas after replacing injured field corner Jamari Sharpe, finishing with four tackles. Curt Cignetti praised his work; the Howard preview expects Bell to start only if Sharpe remains out, without confirming Sharpe's or A.J. Harris' game availability. - Quan Sanks played 16 snaps in Indiana's 2026 opener, entering mainly at strong safety in place of Preston Zachman in the third quarter and producing three tackles, half a tackle for loss and an interception. His 70.1 PFF grade supports the writer's case for more work, but a larger rotation or starting promotion remains a projection. - Tyler Morris returned from his prior ACL injury to start in Indiana's slot, catch three passes for 35 yards and add a 36-yard punt return against North Texas. Josh Hoover found him on crossing routes; the writer projects more middle-of-field space when defenses focus on outside receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, not a guaranteed target share. - With Khobie Martin already reported out until around midseason, Indiana's Howard preview identifies Sean Cuono as a candidate for reserve work behind Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. Cuono has only two career carries for 17 yards but has added roughly 15 pounds since arrival; the writer's expected third-back role is not a confirmed depth-chart decision.

- Pick/market: That is how I am labeling them.

- Injury: Curt Cignetti says running back Khobie Martin "will be out for a little bit” and expected back “around midseason”.

- Curt Cignetti called Indiana starting cornerbacks Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris day-to-day after their early exits against North Texas and said trainers still needed to determine their availability against Howard, with Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell having filled in. - Cignetti expects running back Khobie Martin to miss the next several weeks and return around midseason, without identifying a specific return game. - Indiana freshman tight end Trevor Gibbs is close to returning after missing the opener, but Cignetti said the staff does not want to rush his debut and risk further injury. - Cignetti said injured freshman defensive lineman Blake Smythe could become available soon after missing Week 1, when Cam McHaney took most of the backup snaps in his place.

- Peegs' postgame reconstruction reports that Indiana running back Khobie Martin will miss several weeks, increasing Lee Beebe Jr.'s role behind Turbo Richard while leaving the next reserve spot between Sean Cuono and Jayreon Campbell unsettled. - Curt Cignetti said Indiana expects to retain Joe Brunner at right guard and Adedamola Ajani at right tackle after using that alignment in the opener, with Austin Leibfried also serving as an extra lineman in jumbo packages. - After Indiana cornerbacks A.J. Harris and Jamari Sharpe exited with injuries, Ryland Gandy handled the boundary replacement snaps and Jaylen Bell the field-side snaps, with no deeper cornerback rotation demonstrated after those departures. - Blake Smythe's injury absence gave Indiana freshman Cam McHaney 22 snaps at three-technique behind Mario Landino, although the report expects Smythe to reclaim that rotational role when healthy. - Indiana frequently used three linebackers against North Texas' run-heavy offense, bringing Jeff Utzinger into a SAM role and removing the rover from those packages, so the opener did not establish the depth behind starting rover Byron Baldwin Jr.

- QB/RB: A few of the sustained drives were on missed assignments, not tackling, not speed.

- Pick/market: BLOOMINGTON, Ind.

- QB/OL: I’ve been amazed watching their O line execute and open up holes this game.

- Injury: hopefully Harris and Sharpe are just dinged up and will return quickly.