The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 5-0 after beating the Maryland Terrapins last Saturday, but will be faced with a big task as they host the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers with Big Noon Kickoff coming to Lincoln.
The Hoosiers enter this week ranked 7th in the AP Top 25 after blowing out Rutgers 47-15 on the road. The Hoosiers, along with the Huskers and UCLA Bruins, are the only three remaining undefeated teams in the Big Ten.
Since the arrival of head coach Curt Cignetti in 2024, the Hoosiers program has turned into an unexpected powerhouse. With a record of 32-2 under Cignetti, it should be noted that this is the most remarkable program turnaround in college football history.
The Huskers and Hoosiers have only met once since Cignetti has been at Indiana and it was not pretty. The Hoosiers blew out the Huskers 56-7, an alarming loss for head coach Matt Rhule.
Cignetti and the Hoosiers have a system in place that almost makes them unstoppable and if the Huskers aren’t careful and precise, then this game could get out of hand very quickly.
What to expect on Offense:
Offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan is in his third season at Indiana and his offense has averaged close to 42 points per game since 2024.
TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover is the school's third starting quarterback since 2024 and he is just as talented as Kurtis Rourke or Fernando Mendoza.
Hoover has thrown for 1,101 yards, 15 touchdowns and zero interceptions through five games and has a plethora of talent to throw to all over the field in wide receivers Nick Marsh and Charlie Becker.
The Hoosiers rank 14th in the FBS in total offense and their 9th ranked rushing offense is a big reason for their success offensively. Averaging nearly 257 yards per game running the ball, they have a pair of dynamic running backs that are fully healthy and could each carry the ball at least 15 times per game.
Senior Lee Beebe Jr. and junior Turbo Richard have combined for 1,107 yards and 9 touchdowns and run behind a very good and experienced offensive line led by senior left tackle Carter Smith, who won the Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2025.
The Hoosiers are solid on third downs, converting 51.8% of their attempts and once they reach the redzone, they score on 91.3% of their trips.
What to expect on Defense:
Third year defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will bring a dominant defense to Lincoln after winning the Broyles Award in 2025, which goes to the best assistant coach in college football.
The Hoosiers rank 4th in total defense, 7th against the run and 28th against the pass and the unit as a whole received a huge boost when defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Keelan Wyatt were granted eligibility on September 23rd.
The defensive line as a whole is one of, if not the best in America. Daley has recorded 3 sacks in 2 games, while Kansas State transfer Tobi Osunanmi leads the team with 4. Preseason All-American Tyrique Tucker has been solid and Mario Landino is on pace for a career season.
Linebackers Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy are two of the conference's best. Jones leads the team in tackles with 37, Hardy is second on the team with 33 and both have recorded an interception this season.
In the secondary, 7th year senior and Wisconsin transfer safety Preston Zachman is the key. Against the run, Zachman is one of the most physical run stoppers on the team but on the flip side, he has really struggled in pass coverage and that could be an opportunity for the Huskers to exploit.
Senior defensive back Amare Ferrell is the leader of that group and will be all over the field on Saturday. Penn State transfer cornerback AJ Harris has missed the first five games of 2026, but is considered to be day-to-day and has a real chance of making his season debut against the Huskers.
What to expect on Special Teams:
Third year special teams coordinator Grant Cain has coached his unit to be one of the top special teams units in the country since his arrival in 2024, but the Hoosiers rank just 73rd in the FBS in special teams efficiency through five games.
Senior kicker Nico Radicic has been one of the nation's best kickers since 2024 and has made 5 of his 6 field goal attempts this season with a long of 49. Radicic has missed one extra point attempt this season, but is 173/174 in his career.
30 year old punter Billy Gowers, from Australia, transferred in this past season from Hawaii where he was a PFF First Team All-American in 2025. Gowers is averaging 38.9 yards per punt this season.
