No. 4 Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover got pulled from Saturday’s game against Minnesota right before halftime, after taking a brutal hit on an interception. Head coach Curt Cignetti didn’t confirm if the benching was due to injury, but Hoover got replaced by seventh-year veteran Grant Wilson as the Hoosiers’ offense continues to struggle.
Hoover’s Struggles Hit a New Low
This isn’t a new problem for the No. 4 squad. Indiana’s offense has been spinning its wheels for four straight weeks, and Hoover’s performance has been a big part of it. He took a shot to his right shoulder against Ohio State two weeks ago and just hasn’t looked the same since. Before the game, Hoover said, “We’ll find out when we go out there,” but honestly, it was clear he wasn’t right. Not in the first half of this game, and not last week against Michigan either. He was spraying the ball all over the field, missing receivers high, missing them wide. His first half numbers against Minnesota were rough: just 8 of 19 for 119 yards, plus three rushes for a paltry 2 yards. Not exactly the kind of production you expect from a starting QB on a top-five team.
The Hit That Forced the Change
The deciding moment came with just 11 seconds left in the half. Defensive lineman Jaxon Howard got his mitts on a batted ball at the line and started rumbling with it. As the play unfolded, defensive back Zack Harden shoved Hoover hard to the ground. Hoover landed right on that injured shoulder, with his head bouncing off the turf. He stayed down for a bit, clearly shaken, before walking off the field. Harden’s shove was so egregious, it drew a 15-yard personal foul penalty. Whether it was the hit, the ongoing struggles, or a combination of both, the coaching staff had clearly seen enough. Wilson is in, and you gotta wonder what this means for the Hoosiers’ chances moving forward after their fourth consecutive week of offensive woes.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply