Overview
- Josh Hoover will start for Indiana this season after Fernando Mendoza left for the NFL and was selected No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders.
- Preseason evaluations include skepticism from an anonymous Big 12 defensive coordinator who called Hoover a ‘‘step down’’ and described him as average to slightly above average.
- ESPN analyst Dusty Dvoracek emphasized that Hoover must protect the football and make late-game plays while leaning on Indiana’s talented supporting cast.
- Coach Curt Cignetti says the staff will tailor the offense to Hoover’s strengths, increase reliance on the run game, and reduce situations that invite turnovers.
- Hoover’s true test arrives on September 5 at home against North Texas, and pundits largely still view Indiana as an elite team though most expect some drop-off without Mendoza.