Kellan Wyatt is returning to Indiana University Football for a fifth season Defensive end/outside linebacker Kellan Wyatt is returning to Indiana for a fifth season. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the news. Indiana confirmed Wyatt’s return in social media posts. The Maryland native is able to play due to a federal injunction that grants a fifth season to all members of the class of 2022 who had exhausted their college eligibility in the 2025-26 year. His return could be impacted by NCAA legal challenges to the injunction. After transferring in from Maryland during the offseason, Wyatt was one of Indiana’s most impactful players on the defensive side of the ball. In seven games he had 27 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Wyatt was injured in the fourth quarter of the Michigan State game last October and missed the remainder of the season. Prior to Indiana, Wyatt played three seasons at Maryland, where he played linebacker. He could return to that role for his final season at IU. In four college seasons he has 107 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. The news comes just days after defensive end Stephen Daley announced his return to IU for a fifth season.
Indiana University Football Ranked No. 6 in the 2026 Preseason Coaches’ Poll The first official 2026 college football preseason poll was released on Monday afternoon. And Curt Cignetti has likely found another motivational tool for his third season in Bloomington. Indiana is No. 6 in the preseason coaches’ poll, a panel of 73 coaches across the nation that includes Cignetti. The coaches put Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame ahead of the Hoosiers. Despite being ranked sixth, IU received the second-most No. 1 votes (14) behind Ohio State (38). This is the highest IU has ever been ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll, but a surprising outlook for the reigning national champions. The Hoosiers were No. 19 in the 2025 preseason coaches’ poll before they rattled off 16 straight wins and claimed the national championship. Ranked opponents on Indiana’s 2026 schedule include No. 1 Ohio State, No. 14 USC, No. 16 Michigan, and No. 19 Washington. Nebraska also received votes. Also, from the Big Ten but not on the schedule in the preseason coaches’ poll are No. 2 Oregon and No. 22 Iowa. Illinois also received votes. IU opens the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against North Texas at Noon ET in Bloomington.
Several Indiana University Football Players are on Preseason Watch Lists Can IU football have a repeat winner of the Maxwell Award? Quarterback Josh Hoover is on the preseason watch list for the honor, which goes to college football’s best player. Hoover is college football’s leading returning passer with 9,629 yards and is second in touchdown passes with 71. He has 16 career 300-yard games and three with more than 400 yards. Fernando Mendoza won the Maxwell in 2025. He was Indiana’s second winner after running back Anthony Thompson in 1989. Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 10, while the three finalists will be announced on Nov. 24. A winner will be unveiled on Dec. 10. The Maxwell Award has been awarded to the most outstanding player in college football annually since 1937. It is named in honor of Robert Maxwell, a former player at Swarthmore College, who later became a sportswriter and football official. Meanwhile, new IU long snapper Drew Clausen is on the Mannelly Award Watch list. He transferred in from Iowa State, where he played 26 games over the last two years. The Patrick Mannelly Award, named after former NFL long snapper Patrick Mannelly, will be presented again this season to the player judged by a panel of national experts to be the best FBS long snapper. IU PLAYERS ON 2026 PRESEASON WATCH LISTS-Good Works Team – Charlie Becker. Dodd Trophy — Curt Cignetti. Lott Trophy — Tyrique Tucker and Jamari Sharpe.
Indiana University Football’s Historic National Title still Generates Buzz Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti admits it. He didn’t see it coming, Indiana’s football dominance that led to a 16-0 record, a Big Ten championship and a national title in Curt Cignetti’s second season as Hoosier head coach. Nobody did given IU’s previous century-plus of struggles. During the conference’s annual media days event at the Hilton Chicago, the Hoosiers’ remarkable achievement — only Yale in 1894 has matched that 16-0 record, which included wins over Brown, Cresent Athletic Club and Orange Athletic Club — still generated buzz even as the teams prepare for the upcoming season. Specifically, IU went 11-2 in Cignetti’s first season, with losses coming at Ohio State and at Notre Dame, which played one another for the national championship. The Hoosiers took those learned lessons all the way to the top of the college mountain this past season. That included dominating playoff victories over Alabama (38-3) and Oregon (56-22).
“You saw them double down (on that first-season success) with a difficult schedule and incredible postseason run, the way they played and dominated across most of the games they played,” Petitti says. “I think Cig is unique in terms of what his focus is. Obviously, the decision to bring Cig into the league, you can’t imagine this, when this hire was made and the success they’ve had. We are extremely happy with the way it’s worked out there.” Happiness comes from a historic accomplishment that resonated with Illinois coach Bret Bielema, who was part of a dramatic turnaround while an assistant coach at Kansas State in the early 2000s. “(What IU has done) is single-handedly the most impressive story that I’ve witnessed in my college career,” Bielema says. His Illini were part of that story. They came to Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium last September unbeaten and ranked in the top 10 and got hammered 63-10 in a performance that boosted quarterback Fernando Mendoza — who completed 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns — into the Heisman Trophy picture.
“Cig took over a program that historically had been one of the losingest programs,” Bielema says, “and in two years turned it into an undefeated team that literally ran away with it. “I know what they did to us, right? Then, to see them do what they did in the playoffs, that’s not happened in the CFP playoffs. The way they’ve dominated teams is really impressive.” Few coaches can appreciate that more than Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz, who has been in Iowa City since 1999, winning 209 games. His Hawkeyes lost to IU last season, 20-15. “They were a very well-coached team, a very talented team,” he says.
The biggest reasons for Cignetti’s instant success, Ferentz adds, were retaining many of his assistant coaches from James Madison, highlighted by defensive coordinator Bryant Haines and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, as well as bringing with him key James Madison players. “They knew what he believed in and they believed in the same things,” Ferentz says. “It’s a really good reflection of football in this system and era. It’s a little different than when I took over 27 years ago, but the bottom line is this: They’re a really well-coached football team. I’ve never seen a film where they don’t play hard and don’t compete hard.”
Oregon coach Dan Lanning saw that twice — first when the Hoosiers won 30-20 at Eugene, snapping the Ducks’ 23-game regular season winning streak and 18-game home winning streak, then when IU dominated in that Peach Bowl victory. “Indiana had an unbelievable team last year,” he says. “Everybody that played them got to see that, got to watch that.” Cignetti’s hire came with a big boost from IU President Pam Whitten and athletic director Scott Dolson, who ensured the football program had the resources necessary for elite success. Cignetti told them what was needed, and they delivered. “They made sure that the resources were going to be available to meet what the expectations were,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano says, “and that gives everybody a really good example to point to. “You don’t have to be at the very top in the spending, but you need to be in the ballgame, and you need to coach the heck out of them and develop your guys. I’d say that’s what they did. Much respect for Coach Cignetti and his staff and the institution, for what they did.”
Respect even comes from Purdue coach Barry Odom. “Coach Cignetti and his entire department did such a tremendous job on taking that over and elevating it to where they are today,” he says. “If you look at it in the landscape of college football, it should give every player, every coach, every fan base hope, vision and belief that it can happen. It’s sped things up for everyone, but you also look at how they pieced it together. It worked for them. It’s not the same for every team and program.”
One of the games of the season could center at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 17 when Indiana hosts Ohio State. Cignetti and Buckeyes coach Ryan Day are 1-1 against each other. Ohio State won the 2024 matchup in Columbus, 38-15. The Hoosiers won 13-10 in last year’s Big Ten title game at Indianapolis’s Lucas Oil Stadium. “It’s going to be a great environment,” Day says. “We haven’t played (in Bloomington) since Coach Cignetti has been at Indiana. The atmosphere there has changed. It’s really ramped up. “It will be another game on the road that we’re going to have to prepare for and play well.”
As far as last season’s Big Ten title game, Day says, “You’ve got to give them a lot of credit. It starts with the quarterback (Mendoza, the eventual Heisman Trophy winner) and how he played. And I don’t think enough people give enough credit to that defense and how well they played (IU allowed just 11.7 points a game).” Ohio State entered the Big Ten championship game undefeated and ranked No. 1 with a powerhouse offense and defense. The Hoosiers shut down the Buckeyes as no one had all season. “We look back on the game,” Day says, “look at some of those key situational things that we should have done a much better job with. We take ownership of that. We had to get that better. They won in those situations. If we win those situations, the outcome’s different. But that’s football. “That’s where we’ve got to be better and make sure, we’re ready the next time when those opportunities come up that we make the plays.”
IU is generating plenty of preseason buzz. Three Hoosiers — linebacker Rolijah Hardy, defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker and wide receiver Charlie Becker — received media preseason honors. Ohio State and Oregon each had two players honored. Tucker earned All-American honors as part of one of the nation’s best defensive lines last season. He had 40 tackles, including 12 for loss along with six sacks. Hardy led IU in tackles (102) and sacks (8.0). Becker had a huge final month of the season to total 34 catches for 679 yards and four touchdowns. Also, in an USA TODAY Network preseason poll, Hardy was named Big Ten preseason defensive player of the year. Quarterback Josh Hoover, a TCU transfer, was named conference preseason newcomer of the year.
Yikes: Purdue’s new AD said what at his introductory press conference? All summer we’ve been covering the Curt Cignetti Effect on college football. Did new Purdue AD Tommy McClelland fall victim to the temptation of winning the press conference with a Curt Cignetti-esque viral quote? Sure, seems like it. Introduced on Thursday in West Lafayette, McClelland seems to have arrived at Purdue a bit misinformed. “We are here to win championships,” he said. “If you don’t want to win championships, go to Indiana.” Say what now?
A Louisiana native who has spent most of his career in the South, McClelland arrives at Purdue after four years at Rice. Perhaps he was simply unaware that just over six months ago Indiana won the national championship in the most significant college sport? And he probably had no idea the Hoosiers have outscored Purdue 122-3 in football the last two years? You could certainly forgive McClelland if he has been living under a rock the last two years and missed that. But it’s about much more than just Indiana’s 2025 football national title, however. Championships? You want to win championships? At Purdue? In the words of Chad Johnson, child please.
Indiana holds a massive, massive lead in all-time team championships when compared to Purdue. 25-3, in fact, with none by the Boilermakers in the two big revenue sports, football and men’s basketball. No, we’re not counting some goofball title declared by a baker more than a decade after a season ended. No self-respecting school would claim such a “title.” It’s embarrassing. In fact, three IU programs — men’s soccer, men’s swimming and diving, and men’s basketball — each have more national titles than all Purdue teams combined. As Cignetti himself said on his own first day on the job, “Purdue sucks.” More than anything else, it’s a school ironically better known for its lack of meaningful championships. But perhaps McClelland is here to change all of that and shock the world — just like Cignetti. Good luck.
Indiana Fever Fall in Overtime to the Las Vegas Aces The Indiana Fever (19-12) dropped an 86-84 result in overtime to the Las Vegas Aces on Thursday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Fever earned a 20-18 lead over the Aces in the first quarter with Monique Billings and Aliyah Boston contributing six points apiece. Indiana obtained a five-point advantage going into the second half, finishing 42-37 thanks in part to nine additional points from Boston. The Aces came back in the third quarter to claim the lead, bringing the score to 56-51 with one quarter left. The Fever came back to take a three-point lead with :04 remaining, but in the last moment of regulation Las Vegas tied the game with a three-pointer sending the game into overtime. Despite seven points from Kelsey Mitchell in overtime, it was the Aces who took the win on another buzzer beater.
Aliyah Boston earned her 49th career double-double and eighth of the season with 21 points and 12 rebounds, extending her lead for the second-most double-doubles in franchise history. Kelsey Mitchell scored 20+ points for the 15th consecutive game, tying A’ja Wilson’s record for the most consecutive 20+ point games in a single season. Wilson also holds the record for the most 20+ point consecutive games overall at 20, spanning across two seasons. Makayla Timpson set a new career high with 10 rebounds, surpassing her previous record of nine set on July 12, 2026, against the Seattle Storm. Caitlin Clark’s eight assists are tied for the third most in single half in franchise history, three shy of the Fever record of 11 assists set by herself on June 17, 2024, against the Dallas Wings. Kelsey Mitchell recorded her 46th consecutive double-digit scoring game, good for the second longest active streak in the WNBA. The game marked the eighth in which the trio of Aliyah Boston, Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell each scored 20+ points, seven more than any other trio in franchise history.
Indianapolis Colts Signing Jonathan Taylor to a reported two-year, $44 million extension as another NFL Running Back gets paid Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is now a much richer man. The star seventh year back has signed a two-year contract extension with his team that pays him a base value of $44 million, $39 million of which is guaranteed, according to multiple reports. The contract has a maximum value of $47 million. The Colts made the signing official on Thursday. The deal comes together just days after Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson signed a new deal with a base value of $22.75 million per year, which clearly set the market for running back contracts. Taylor now becomes the second highest-paid running back in the NFL in terms of average annual value, jumping ahead of Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley, who sits at $20.6 million.
Taylor led the NFL in both carries (323) and rushing touchdowns (18) last season and has run for at least 1,400 yards and 11 touchdowns in each of the last two years. He’s heading into his age-27 season and is the clear centerpiece of the Indianapolis offense. The Colts started last season absolutely on fire offensively under quarterback Daniel Jones, leading the league in scoring for the first half of the season. They slowed down a bit after Jones suffered an initial leg injury, then suffered further after Jones tore his Achilles and the team had to turn to Philip Rivers, whom they signed off the street. With Jones back healthy in time for training camp, they are trying to recapture the form they had at the start of last year, and Taylor is clearly one of the keys to their doing so. Of course, the Colts also spent a bunch of money to retain Jones this offseason, handing him a two-year, $88 million contract to return to the fold. Field-stretching wide receiver Alec Pierce also received a big-money contract, with the Colts re-signing him for $114 million over four years. Indianapolis is now clearly counting on that trio to hold down the fort down the offense over the next couple of years.