Four Indiana University Football Players Earn Preseason AP All-American Honors as Khobie Martin and Turbo Richard are Named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List Four IU football players were voted preseason AP All-Americans ahead of the 2026 campaign. Left tackle Carter Smith and linebacker Rolijah Hardy were named to the first team, while wide receiver Charlie Becker and defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker both earned second-team nods. Smith earned second-team AP honors following the 2025 season, while Tucker was on the third team. Tucker and Becker were named to the preseason watch list for the 2026 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Walter Camp Football Foundation announced Monday. The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is the nation’s fourth-oldest individual college football accolade and is presented annually to college football’s player of the year. Fernando Mendoza won the award in 2025.
Meanwhile, IU running backs Khobie Martin and Turbo Richard were both named to the watch list for the 2026 Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back. Martin could go from starting the 2025 season as the No. 4 back to No. 1 in 2026. He finished the 2025 year with 505 yards — the most rushing yards by an Indiana freshman since Stevie Scott III in 2018 — on 78 carries with six touchdowns. Richard joins the Hoosiers out of the transfer portal from Boston College, and he should be heavily involved as well. He was the Eagles’ lead back last year, and he rushed for 749 yards on 145 attempts with nine touchdowns.
MORE IU PLAYERS ON 2026 PRESEASON WATCH LISTS Butkus Award – Isaiah Jones and Rolijah Hardy Lombardi Award – Isaiah Jones, Tyrique Tucker, Rolijah Hardy and Carter Smith Wuerffel Trophy – Charlie Becker Jim Thorpe Award – Amare Ferrell Lou Groza Award – Nico Radicic Rimington Trophy – Bray Lynch Nagurski Trophy – Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones, Tyrique Tucker, Amare Ferrell Outland Trophy – Carter Smith and Tyrique Tucker Maxwell Award – Josh Hoover Mannelly Award – Drew Clausen Good Works Team – Charlie Becker Dodd Trophy — Curt Cignetti Lott Trophy — Tyrique Tucker and Jamari Sharpe.
Former Indiana University Football Offensive Tackle Trey Wedig Signs with the Indianapolis Colts Former IU football offensive tackle Trey Wedig has signed a free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts. He most recently played in the UFL. Listed at 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Wedig spent time on the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad last season. He participated in the Los Angeles Rams’ 2025 offseason program and training camp. Wedig was originally signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2025. Collegiately, he spent one season (2024) at Indiana where he started all 13 games. Prior to Indiana, Wedig saw action in 35 games (eight starts) in four seasons (2020-23) at Wisconsin. Over his career, he registered starts at right tackle (18), right guard (two) and left guard (one). Wedig is the second former Hoosier to join the Colts roster. He joins former IU receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Indiana University Women’s Tennis Announces the 2026 Fall Schedule Indiana women’s tennis has announced its 2026 fall schedule. Competition begins with the team’s season opener at the Debbie Southern Furman Fall Classic hosted by Furman on Sept. 11-13. Pending qualifications, the Hoosiers could see action in the ITA All-American Championship in Cary, N.C. on Sept. 19-27. Indiana will host the annual Hoosier Classic on Oct. 2-4 in Bloomington. Each player is set to play three rounds of singles and doubles over three days in a compass draw format. The team rounds up October with the ITA Regionals in Mason, Ohio on Oct. 8-13 in hopes of qualifying for ITA Sectional Championships on Nov. 5-8 in Knoxville, Tenn. The Hoosiers also look to compete at the Conference Masters Championships in Rome, Ga. that same weekend. They look to wrap up the fall slate at the June Stewart Invitational in Nashville, Tenn. on Nov. 6-8 and the NCAA Individual Championships in Athens, Ga. on Nov. 17-22, pending qualification. The 2026 spring schedule, including Big Ten play, will be announced at a later date.
Marian University Athletics Director and Former Indiana University Men’s Basketball Player Steve Downing announces plan to retire after 2026-27 academic year Longtime Marian University Director of Athletics Steve Downing announced his plan to retire following the 2026-27 academic year, the University released on Wednesday afternoon. The revolutionary leader of Marian Athletics helped transform the department into a national brand, as the Knights have captured each of its 10 NAIA National Championships and 40 of its USA Cycling National Championships during his tenure. “The most important thing to me is knowing I made a difference in young people’s lives,” Downing said. “You can write about the wins and losses, but for me, it’s the people I’ve helped…. On graduation day, a number of kids come up and hug me. They don’t say anything; they just hug me and thank me. That’s as good as it gets. That’s my reward.”
After this academic year, the two-time Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year will have spent 16 years as Director of Athletics, a period in which MU student-athletes have enjoyed great successes in competition, in the classroom and in the community. Marian has won 125 team conference championships with over 200 individual national championships during Downing’s time at Marian, while nearly 1,500 student-athletes have been named NAIA Scholar-Athletes. The Knights have earned five top-five finishes in the NAIA LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup standings, which rank athletic departments on their overall athletic success across all sports. Marian earned a department-record runner-up finish following the 2022-23 academic year.
“Steve Downing and his wife, Doris, a Marian alumna, have been outstanding leaders in the Marian University community,” Marian University President Daniel J. Elsener said. “Steve has been highly successful in ensuring that Marian University’s investment in intercollegiate athletics provides an outstanding ‘laboratory of character and leadership development.’ Few athletic directors in America, if any, can match the number of conference and national championships won under Steve’s years of leadership at Marian.” At Marian, Downing has emphasized academic support alongside athletic performance, including implementing study tables and strengthening assistance for student-athletes considered academically at risk. He has also overseen continued development of the athletics program and the addition of three new varsity sports – wrestling, lacrosse and rugby.
Downing has led the hiring and retention of several standout coaches, as MU coaches under Downing have earned a total of 99 conference coach of the year honors with eight earning national coach of the year recognition. Additionally, two Marian student-athletes went on to compete in the Olympics and two went on to play in the National Football League. “Steve Downing has been among the best leaders I’ve had the privilege of working with in my career,” Marian University Chief Operating Officer and Chancellor Dr. Kenith Britt said. “From the beginning, Steve’s focus has been on the ‘student’ portion of the student-athlete and running Marian University like an NCAA Division I athletics program. Over the last 15 years, he has continuously delivered in both areas, as evidenced by the excellent coaches he’s hired, the number of national championships, enrollment and retention growth, and graduating transformational leaders in service to the world.”
Marian Athletics has seen many remarkable facility upgrades during Downing’s time, including, but not limited to, the opening of the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital Hall of Champions, Drew Family Health & Fitness Center and the Marian Golf Studio along with renovations at the Physical Education Center, Athletic Training Center, MU Ballpark and the addition of the video board at Ascension St. Vincent Field. Downing came to Marian in August of 2011 following 10 years of service as the Senior Associate Director of Athletics at Texas Tech University. He left for the Lone Star state after 22 years in athletics administration at Indiana University, where he starred for the Hoosiers as a student-athlete, earning 1973 Big Ten MVP honors. A first-round pick of the Boston Celtics, Downing won an NBA championship with the franchise in his rookie season. An Indianapolis native, Downing won a state championship alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer George McGinnis on the undefeated 1969 George Washington basketball team. After retiring, Downing looks forward to traveling, returning to golf and spending more time with his six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Indiana Fever take down the Chicago Sky 113-90 and set franchise record with 18 made threes The Indiana Fever closed their five-game road trip in record-breaking fashion Sunday, hitting a franchise-record 18 three-pointers in a 113-90 win over the Chicago Sky. Caitlin Clark powered the victory with 37 points and a career-high eight made threes, snapping Indiana’s two-game skid despite the absence of star forward Aliyah Boston. Clark finished with 37 points and 10 assists, shooting 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. Her 37 points mark the third-most points in a single game in franchise history. “I thought me and Kelsey [Mitchell] did a really good job in the second half of playing split game and shadowing out of cuts and playing pitch and putting them in a lot of action where they had to pick and choose between the two of us and cause some confusion,” Clark said. “Additionally, I thought we played well in transition and that was because I thought we got stops, especially in the fourth quarter, and that was when we were able to put them away.”
Kelsey Mitchell added 30 points and shot 6-of-9 from three-point range. She extended her league-leading WNBA record for consecutive 20-point games to 23 straight, all coming this season. Clark and Mitchell combined for 14 of Indiana’s 18 triples. As a team, the Fever went 18-of-33 from deep (55%). It marked the 18th time this season Indiana has topped 100 points, adding to its league record for the most 100-point games in a single season. Fever head coach Stephanie White added to what gave her team so much success in the last game of Indiana’s five-game road trip. “It’s huge, it’s really important,” White said. “You’re at the end of what, six in ten days? Coming in and playing a team that’s playing really great basketball. For us to have that energy and have that burst in the fourth quarter, I’m just really proud of our group.” The Fever (25-14), who own the WNBA’s fifth-best record, return home to host the Connecticut Sun on Friday, Aug. 28, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Taylor University Ranked No. 14 in NAIA Women’s Soccer Preseason Poll After securing the highest ranking in program history last fall, the Taylor University women’s soccer team maintained its poll position after clocking in at No. 14 in the 2026 NAIA Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Poll, released on Wednesday afternoon. TU has now appeared in seven consecutive Top 25 polls for the second time in program history. Coming off a historic 2025 campaign, TU returns 19 players and adds 11 newcomers to the mix, with the Trojans looking to reload after finishing 14-3-3 (5-5-2 CL) and qualifying for the NAIA national tournament for the third time in seven years. The Trojans advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in program history after defeating No. 11 Central Methodist in the second round. A pair of first-team all-conference performers will lead the Trojans, with seniors Eliza Luttrell and Campbell Massey returning to the pitch. Luttrell led the team in goals (12) and assists (8) last season, while Massey, who has started 50 of 55 career appearances, anchored the back line and netted a career-best four goals. Key returners also include seniors Leah McQuade (7G-3A), Sydney Reddy (2G-4A), Meskerem James (12 starts), Maegen Hill (2G-2A), and juniors Lydia Bailey (1G-2A) and Faith Sena (1G-1A).
Indiana Pacers Moving to DAZN Streaming Service The Indiana Pacers are moving their game broadcasts to DAZN under a new five-year agreement following the December bankruptcy of their previous broadcast partner. Mel Raines, President and CEO of Pacers Sports & Entertainment, said the organization did not make the decision lightly, recognizing that the change will affect fans. However, she said the “television landscape has changed dramatically and emphasized the team’s goal of making games more accessible.” Raines pointed to the NBA Finals, when half of Indiana’s televisions were tuned to the Pacers, as Pacers Announce Five-Year Streaming Deal With DAZN. Joey Graziano, executive vice President and chief commercial officer, described the agreement as a fan-first move reflecting changing viewing habits. “Television accounted for approximately 80% of game viewing in 2010 but represents only about 20% today”, he said. Under the new arrangement, 22 Pacers games will be available free before the DAZN paywall. Fifteen games will air over the air on traditional television, while 11 will receive national broadcasts.
DAZN will provide a seven-day free trial meanwhile, early-bird pricing will be through Oct. 15 is $59.99 Following that the Pacers package will cost $19.99 monthly or $119.99 annually. Xander Brelinski SVP of strategy and business development, stated with the app available everywhere user experience is still the same but the manner in which fans consume is changing. With cable subscriptions down in households consuming Pacer’s content will be available anywhere with connected devices to internet. The Pacers will receive a dedicated DAZN hub featuring team content, real-time statistics and scores. Brelinski sees Indianapolis as a major opportunity for DAZN. DAZN currently operates in 200 separate markets worldwide creating more than a decade of sports-streaming experience including being the largest international partner with the NFL. Catch the Pacers first preseason game on DAZN on October 7th.