BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti opened fall camp Wednesday eager to get a look at how all the pieces on his roster fit together.
On paper, the No. 6 Hoosiers look capable of another deep playoff run. They brought back a healthy number of returning starters on both sides of the ball and added one of the most talented transfer portal classes in the country.
What IU currently lacks, according to Cignetti, is the “team mindset and identity” that defined the program’s 16-0 perfect season.
“I think it’s a really important camp for us because we haven’t had the opportunity to get all of our people together,” Cignetti said. “Had a lot of guys out in spring ball, the guys that we think will be counting on.”
The Hoosiers will be looking to establish that chemistry in the days to come.
“The goal is to develop players, develop position groups, individually, collectively, develop the intangibles as we get closer to game one,” Cignetti said.
Here’s what stood out from the first week of fall camp:
Indiana football shores up defensive depth with unexpected additions
If the legal challenges to the NCAA’s new eligibility changes hold, Indiana football added major defensive firepower this week by bringing back Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt.
The proven playmakers might have been in NFL training camps if it wasn’t for the injuries they suffered last season. Daley arrived back in Bloomington early enough that he participated in the first day of fall camp, while Wyatt returned to campus on Thursday.
Wyatt could fill the one hole IU had on defense to open camp by moving back to outside linebacker. He would give the Hoosiers a veteran presence in 4-3 sets next to Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones. Regardless, they give Indiana added depth and flexibility in a front seven loaded with talent. Defensive coordinator Bryant Haines will be able to keep guys fresh by mixing up his personnel if he chooses.
It’s also worth noting that Daley and Wyatt give Indiana eight players on defense with at least 20 or more career starts.
Indiana football enters fall camp with no mystery, drama at quarterback
At Big Ten Media Days, Cignetti almost shut down a question about the similarities between Josh Hoover and Fernando Mendoza by simply pointing out they were both quarterbacks. He ended up offering a more substantive response, but the exchange highlighted his reluctance to speak at length about the TCU transfer.
It’s certainly not because the Hoosiers have any drama at the position this fall.
Hoover has been the expected starter since he signed with the team, and Cignetti eliminated whatever mystery there was about the two-deep by naming Grant Wilson his backup at Big Ten Media Days.
On Wednesday, Cignetti gave a similar boilerplate response when asked about Hoover’s performance on the first day of camp and the quarterback’s trajectory.
“I was watching so many different guys,” Cignetti said. “It appeared that he finished practice-wise (well); I saw him make a few nice throws at the end.”
Going back to the spring, Cignetti’s boilerplate responses to questions about Hoover mirror how he initially talked about Fernando Mendoza. It speaks to how Cignetti manages expectations at the position, and actively avoids putting any undue pressure on his starter. He’s happy to trot out platitudes during the offseason and move on to the next topic.
‘Five-for-five’ rule won’t impact how Curt Cignetti manages his roster
Going into the 2026-27 academic year, the NCAA eliminated the traditional redshirt rule and medical hardship waivers in favor of an age-based eligibility framework. The new “five-for-five” guidelines allow players to play five seasons in five calendar years.
While Cignetti approves the rule change, it’s not going to have much of an impact on how he manages IU’s roster.
“I didn’t think a lot about it last year,” Cignetti said. “If a guy could help a team win, ready to play winning football, you better play him, because you could go into the portal, you’re two or you’re four, you’re three, right?”
Byron Baldwin Jr., Indiana’s top-ranked signee in 2025, was the perfect example.
After missing the first half of the season with an injury, Cignetti played him in five regular-season games, one more than the redshirt threshold. He could have easily preserved an additional year of eligibility under the previous rules by sitting out against Purdue, but the coaching staff felt he deserved the snaps.
Two-minute drill
>> Cignetti told reporters on the first day of fall camp that receiver Charlie Becker is playing with more “confidence and belief” than he had last season. Considering how Becker played in high-pressure moments last season, that’s a scary thought for the rest of the Big Ten.
After entering the starting lineup at midyear, Becker became a household name in a matter of weeks. He’s now generating buzz as a potential first-round pick, and his performance throughout the offseason has done nothing to quiet the hype.
“I think as I get older and as I continue to grow and know more about the offense and be able to read defenses and just seeing how I’ve improved, I think my confidence has gone up,” Becker said. “Just being able to trust myself and trust my teaching.”
>> Former Michigan receiver Tyler Morris established himself as a leader last year despite not playing a snap for the Hoosiers. After suffering a season-ending injury on the first day of spring camp, he didn’t just pack it in. Becker told reporters on Thursday that Morris remained with the team “the whole way” as a veteran voice on the sidelines.
“That’s what a leader is,” Becker said. “Things might not go your way, but you always have to keep the faith and just be sure to teach and coach as much as you can, even though you’re not the one getting the recognition for it. Tyler had a big role last year for all of us.”
Morris, who received an additional year of eligibility, is healthy now and hoping he can have a more direct impact on games back at receiver. He’s a potential replacement for Omar Cooper Jr. in the slot and could be in the mix to return punts.
Quote of the week
Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana football Week 1: Added defensive depth, no drama at QB and more
Reporting by Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times / Indianapolis Star
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By Michael Niziolek, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
