Josh Hoover, man, it looks like he is going to be back under center for Indiana’s absolute must-win game against No. 18 USC this weekend. Yeah, the dude who took an upper body shot against Ohio State and had us all holding our breath? He ain’t on the Big Ten’s initial availability report for the week, which dropped Wednesday night. That’s a huge sigh of relief for the No. 9 Hoosiers (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) as they gear up for the Trojans (7-2, 4-2 Big Ten).
Hoover’s Return: A Timely Boost for the Hoosiers
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti played it close to the vest, declining to name a starter for Saturday, but if Hoover stays off that report, he’ll be in uniform and ready to roll. You gotta remember, before the off week, backup quarterback Grant Wilson stepped in when Hoover went down, orchestrating a sick 23-16 overtime comeback win against Minnesota. That was massive, showing this team has fight even when things get tough. But having your starting QB, especially one who’s been through it, back for a game with this much on the line? That’s just what they needed.
The Brutal Reality of the Injury List
Here’s the gut punch, though: while Hoover’s back, the Hoosiers are still dealing with some serious bumps and bruises elsewhere. They’ve got four key contributors, three of them starters, on the availability report. Their leading rusher, Turbo Richard, and defensive end Kellan Wyatt are both already listed as out for Saturday’s contest. Richard, who was shaken up against Minnesota but came back on special teams, is a monster with 745 rushing yards, a 6.5 yards per carry average, and six rushing touchdowns through nine games this season. Losing him, a Boston College transfer, is massive. It’s been a tough year for the running back room, with Khobie Martin missing half the season with an arm injury. Martin just made his return against the Gophers, but he’s only got three carries for seven yards on the season, so he isn’t quite up to speed.
And the hits keep coming: Cornerback A.J. Harris and linebacker Rolijah Hardy are both questionable. Hardy was a late scratch against Minnesota due to a back injury, while Harris hobbled off the field in the second half of that game. Harris also missed time earlier this season with a knee injury before regaining his starting spot and playing well. If he’s out, Jaylen Bell, a Penn State transfer who filled in for Harris earlier, would likely get the start. For Hardy, freshman Jacob Savage stepped up against Minnesota, playing a career-high 60 snaps, racking up two quarterback pressures and four stops. The kid’s been in the rotation in their 4-3 defense, and he clearly made an impact.
This game against USC is absolutely critical, and even with Hoover back, these other injuries are going to test Indiana’s depth big time. Can they rally and keep their top-10 ranking with so many key pieces either out or banged up? Saturday is gonna tell the tale.
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