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ESPN’s FPI predicts the outcome of every game on Indiana’s 2026 schedule
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Can the Indiana Hoosiers do it all over again?
The 2025 national champions have reloaded and figure to be one of the best rosters in the Big Ten as the 2026 season inches ever closer. Curt Cignetti went out and snagged Josh Hoover out of TCU, and the Horned Frogs sure looked to be missing their former quarterback Saturday against Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
Charlie Becker is also back alongside standout left tackle Carter Smith and several capable transfers such as Michigan State wide receiver Nick Marsh. It’ll look a little different than the Fernando Mendoza show from last year, but there’s a lot to be excited about with Cignetti running the show in Bloomington.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) has the Hoosiers favored in 11 of its 12 matchups this season. Here’s how ESPN’s FPI sees each game playing out for Curt Cignetti and Co:
- Sept 5: North Texas Mean Green | 98.2% chance to win
- Sept 12: Howard Bison | 99.9% chance to win
- Sept 19: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers | 97.6% chance to win
- Sept 25: Northwestern Wildcats | 95.0% chance to win
- Oct 3: Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 92.9% chance to win
- Oct 10: Nebraska Cornhuskers | 81.0% chance to win
- Oct 17: Ohio State Buckeyes | 39.2% chance to win
- Oct 24: Michigan Wolverines | 65.5% chance to win
- Oct 31: Minnesota Golden Gophers | 95.6% chance to win
- Nov 14: USC Trojans | 77.3% chance to win
- Nov 21: Washington Huskies | 76.2% chance to win
- Nov 28: Purdue Boilermakers | 96.1% chance to win
Indiana is set to open it season on Sept. 5 against North Texas and former Hoosiers quarterback Tayven Jackson. The game is set to kick off at Noon and will air on FOX.
Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.