IU football ranked No. 5 nationally, picked to finish 2nd in Big Ten by Athlon Sports

Charlie Becker.

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

On Monday, we shared notes from the Lindy’s Sports preview magazine, which picked IU football No. 5 nationally and third in the Big Ten.

Here are some notes on Indiana and the Big Ten at large from the Athlon Sports preview magazine:

(You can purchase the magazine here.)

• Eight Big Ten teams are ranked in the Athlon Sports preseason top 25, which is headlined by No. 1 Ohio State. Indiana is No. 5, Oregon is No. 6, Michigan is No. 13, USC is No. 14, Washington is No. 17, Penn State is No. 18 and Iowa is No. 25.

• Here’s where the other 10 Big Ten teams stack up nationally in the preseason, according to Athlon: Illinois (No. 33), Nebraska (No. 38), Minnesota (No. 42), UCLA (No. 43), Wisconsin (No. 55), Northwestern (No. 57), Maryland (No. 58), Rutgers (No. 69), Michigan State (No. 72) and Purdue (No. 85).

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

• In its CFP projections, Athlon picked Indiana to earn the No. 5 seed with a loss in the quarterfinals.

• Carter Smith is first team preseason All-America and Charlie Becker is second team.

• On the defensive side, Rolijah Hardy is first team preseason All-America and Isaiah Jones and Amare Ferrell are second team.

• IU players on the Athlon Sports All-Big Ten first team include Becker, Smith, Tyrique Tucker, Jones, Hardy, Ferrell and Nico Radicic.

• In its unit rankings for the Big Ten, Indiana is No. 3 at quarterback, No. 4 at running back, No. 3 at wide receiver, No. 1 on the offensive line, No. 2 on the defensive line, No. 1 at linebacker and No. 3 in the defensive backfield.

• In its unit rankings nationally, Indiana is No. 8 at quarterback, No. 5 at wide receiver, No. 3 on the offensive line, No. 4 on the defensive line, No. 3 at linebacker and No. 5 in the defensive backfield.

• Josh Hoover is one of eight players listed in tier one for the Heisman Trophy watch.

• Hoover is listed as the top incoming transfer in the Big Ten. Nick Marsh is third and Tobi Osunsanmi is No. 8.

• Indiana’s home game against Ohio State on October 17 is ranked as the second-best game on the schedule nationally entering the 2026 season.

• In its conference rankings, Athlon has the Big Ten first, followed by the SEC, Big 12, ACC and the Pac-12.

(Photo credit: IU Athletics)

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