IU football ranked No. 5 nationally, picked to finish 3rd in Big Ten by Lindy’s Sports

IU football quarterback Josh Hoover.

The Lindy’s Sports 2026 preview magazine – an annual publication previewing the upcoming college football season – is on newsstands now.

Here are some notes on Indiana and the Big Ten at large from the annual publication:

(You can purchase the magazine here.)

• Eight Big Ten teams are ranked in the Lindy’s preseason top 25, which is topped by No. 1 Oregon. Ohio State is No. 3, Indiana is No. 5, USC is No. 10, Michigan is No. 16, Washington is No. 19, Iowa is No. 21 and Penn State is No. 23.

• Lindy’s continued its rankings beyond the top 25 and here’s where the rest of the league is slotted: Illinois (No. 31), Minnesota (No. 33), Nebraska (No. 38), Northwestern (No. 50), Wisconsin (No. 53), UCLA (No. 54), Michigan State (No. 65), Maryland (No. 70), Purdue (No. 77) and Rutgers (No. 98).

• Lindy’s picked Oregon to win the Big Ten, followed by Ohio State, Indiana, USC, Michigan, Washington, Iowa, Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin, UCLA, Michigan State, Maryland, Purdue and Rutgers.

• In its CFP projections, Lindy’s has the Hoosiers earning the No. 5 seed and falling in the quarterfinals.

• Here’s why Lindy’s picked the Hoosiers third: “Big spenders again in recruiting; Indiana should feel great. Hoosiers lost a lot of firepower and everyone wants a piece of them. Loaded with veterans defensively, that unit makes Indiana a title contender again.”

• Carter Smith is first team preseason All-America, the only Hoosier on the first or second teams for offense.

• Isaiah Jones is a second-team preseason All-America, the only Hoosier on the first or second teams for defense.

• In the national position rankings, Josh Hoover is the No. 12 quarterback, Turbo Richard is the No. 18 running back, Charlie Becker is the No. 7 wide receiver, Drew Evans is the No. 6 guard, Smith is the No. 1 tackle, Tobi Osunsanmi is the No. 14 defensive end, Tyrique Tucker is the No. 5 defensive tackle, Rolijah Hardy is the No. 8 outside linebacker, Jones is the No. 2 inside linebacker and Amare Ferrell is the No. 10 safety.

• IU players on the Lindy’s All-Big Ten teams include Becker (first team), Smith (first team), Tucker (first team), Jones (first team), Hardy (first team), Richard (second team), Evans (second team), Osunsanmi (second team), Jamari Sharpe (second team), Ferrell (second team), Joe Brunner (third team) and Niko Radicic (third team).

• In unit rankings, Indiana has the No. 8 wide receiving unit, the No. 1 offensive line, the No. 7 defensive line, the No. 3 group of linebackers and the No. 8 defensive backfield.

• In terms of Big Ten superlatives, Nick Marsh is noted as having the “best hands” in the conference and Smith is mentioned as the “best pass blocker.”

• On the list of “top 10 NFL talent” in the Big Ten, Smith is listed at No. 5 and Becker is No. 9.

• Among the big games listed involving Big Ten teams, matchups involving the Hoosiers include the Ohio State game in Bloomington on October 17, IU’s trip to Michigan on October 24, USC’s game at IU on November 14 and IU’s trip west to play Washington on November 21.

• On the Lindy’s Heisman Watch, Josh Hoover is No. 10: “Chalking this ranking up to Cignetti magic. And, well, his best friends on the O-Line and great defense will help him reduce his TCU-level turnovers.”

• Hoover is listed as the fourth most impactful quarterback transfer behind Darian Mensah (Duke to Miami), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State to LSU) and Drew Mestermaker (North Texas to Oklahoma State).

• In terms of the most impactful non-QB transfers, Marsh is No. 9: “Pairing Marsh with Charlie Becker on the outside should offer immediate fireworks for the Hoosiers’ offense.”

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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