logo
Indiana Football Preview 2025: Hoosiers Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

Indiana Football Preview 2025: Hoosiers Season Prediction, Win Total Projection, Top Players

Miami Herald10 hours ago

Indiana Hoosiers Key to the Season
Be great running the ball on everyone.All of the whining about the Indiana schedule last year was overblown, except for one area - the ground attack.Indiana ran well against the mediocre and sad, going 10-0 when pounding out 122 yards or more. Who kept the Hoosiers to under 100 yards? Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan.
Indiana Hoosiers Key Player
Tyrique Tucker, DT Jr.The Indiana defense will be great against the run no matter what, but it'll be next-level again as long as the main man on the nose keeps doing his job.The 6-0, 298-pound anchor made 29 tackles with five tackles for loss as a freshman at James Madison, and made 24 tackles with five tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last year in the middle of the Hoosier line. 2025 Indiana PreviewIndiana Offense BreakdownIndiana Defense Breakdown
Indiana Hoosiers Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss
Top Transfer In: Fernando Mendoza, QB Jr.The 6-5, 225-pounder was a good freshman passer at Cal, and last year he was razor sharp before getting knocked out late in the season. He's deadly accurate, keeps the mistakes to a minimum, and he can run a little bit.Top Transfer Out: Donaven McCulley, WR Sr.The team's top receiver in 2023, McCulley made 48 catches for 644 yards and four scores. Just when the fun was about to start last year, he got hurt right out of the gate and was done. Now he's off to Michigan to be its star on the outside.
Indiana Hoosiers Key Game
Illinois, Sept. 20You know all that stuff about the Indiana schedule last season? Starting the Big Ten season against Illinois will show right away whether or not the Hoosiers will be players this year. Lost this, and with a trip to Iowa next, followed up by a date at Oregon, and this could go sideways fast.- 2025 Indiana Schedule Breakdown
Indiana Hoosiers Top 10 Players
1. Mikail Kamara, EDGE Sr.2. Elijah Sarratt, WR Sr.3. Fernando Mendoza, QB Jr.4. Aiden Fisher, LB Sr.5. Tyrique Tucker, DT Jr.6. D'Angelo Ponds, CB Jr.7. Amare Ferrell, S Jr.8. Pat Coogan, C Sr.9. Roman Hemby RB Sr.10. Hosea Wheeler, DT Sr.
Indiana Hoosiers 2024 Fun Stats
- 1st Quarter Scoring: Indiana 108, Opponents 20- Fumbles: Opponents 16 (lost 9), Indiana 10 (lost 3)- Kickoff Returns: Opponents 41 for 804 yards, Indiana 6 for 127 yards
Indiana Hoosiers 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen
Last year at this time, it seemed like there wasn't any way possible to get by Ohio State, Michigan, Washington, and sidestep other landmines like Nebraska, and Maryland, and Michigan State, and …This will be a tougher grind.Indiana will still be terrific, and the non-conference season will once again be light and breezy - Indiana State, Kennesaw State, Old Dominion - but things get nasty in a hurry.There's no Ohio State or Michigan - missing Minnesota, Nebraska, USC, and Washington isn't bad either - but going to Oregon, Penn State, and Iowa will be rough.
But this isn't the Indiana of old. It'll win its share of hard games, and it'll get hot late with a great second half of the season, but it won't be a CFP season.It'll be a second straight bowl season and the best two-year run in the history of Hoosier football.Set The Indiana Win Total At … 8Likely Wins: Indiana State, Kennesaw State, Old Dominion, at Purdue50/50 Games: Illinois, at Iowa, at Maryland, Michigan State, UCLA, WisconsinLikely Losses: at Oregon, at Penn State 2025 Indiana PreviewIndiana Offense BreakdownIndiana Defense Breakdown
© 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News
Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News

Yahoo

time21 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News

Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. To say that Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham's popularity has skyrocketed among WNBA fans of late would be an understatement at this point. A testament to this fact is how the veteran has now amassed over 1 million followers on TikTok and over 740,000 followers on Instagram. Advertisement According to a report by Jacob Feldman of Portico, this massive development represents more than 700,000 new followers on TikTok and over 250,000 new followers on Instagram. This huge jump comes right after Cunningham grabbed all sorts of headlines for her actions in the Fever's 88-71 win over the Connecticut Sun. That matchup turned out to be quite a testy affair between the two teams, with Cunningham getting herself involved in one of the most contentious moments in the game. Cunningham was ejected late in the fourth quarter for a flagrant foul 2 on Sun guard Jacy Sheldon, who, for her part, was involved in an earlier incident with Caitlin Clark. Fever fans loved how Cunningham appeared to retaliate on behalf of Clark after the Indiana superstar was poked in the eye and shoved to the ground earlier in the game. The supporters showed their love to the 28-year-old on social media, and the fact that Cunningham has earned close to a million new followers on TikTok and Instagram combined serves as proof of the same. Advertisement Naturally, the only way Cunningham would celebrate the big news is by posting a new dance video on TikTok. Cunningham's celebratory dance has since blown up on the social media platform, amassing close to 500,000 views in five hours, as of writing. The post has also drawn all sorts of reactions from the fans. "New Tik tok followers just paid her WNBA fine," a comment read. "Sophie!!!!! you are everyone's new favorite teammate, we love YOU," another said. "1 million followers and sold out jersey…what a time!" a supporter wrote. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) during a game.© Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images "Heck yea. Protect your players when the refs won't," a reaction read. "Do not stop being the enforcer for the Indiana Fever/Caitlin Clark. Please don't let me down. I'm counting on you," demanded a fan. Advertisement "700k overnight is INSANE 🔥" said another. Cunningham isn't exactly a WNBA superstar, but there is no doubt that her status on social media has seen a significant surge over the past few days. As for her basketball, the 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 6.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 triples in 22.6 minutes off the bench. Related: Sophie Cunningham Draws Strong Reactions From Fever Fans After WNBA Punishment Related: Indiana Fever Make Historic Announcement During Valkyries Game Related: Warriors Player Turns Heads After Taunting Caitlin Clark During Fever-Valkyries Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.

Caitlin Clark Assigns Blame After Fever's Loss to Valkyries
Caitlin Clark Assigns Blame After Fever's Loss to Valkyries

Yahoo

time22 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Caitlin Clark Assigns Blame After Fever's Loss to Valkyries

Caitlin Clark Assigns Blame After Fever's Loss to Valkyries originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Caitlin Clark had a forgettable outing on Thrusday night as the Indiana Fever suffered a disappointing 88-77 loss to the Golden State Valkyries. Advertisement The Fever star was held to just 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting, to go along with seven rebounds, nine assists, a steal and, for just the second time in her WNBA career, zero three-pointers. Clark also committed a team-high six turnovers in this one, which is one of the main issues the 23-year-old emphasized during her postgame press conference. 'I think we get these leads, we get up 10, we get up 12, and I thought that's where we really grew versus [the Connecticut Sun], we really took a step forward and kept our foot on the gas and built out our lead and got it up to 20,' Clark said, via Chloe Peterson of IndyStar. 'I thought we were kind of in the phase of not (giving up those leads) anymore. And then we got our lead to 12 (against the Valkyries), and then we kind of go on a stretch of turning the ball over… We got to be able to grow in that area.' Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (left) blocks a shot by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) with guard Tiffany Hayes (right). Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images As Clark said in her statement, it was Indiana's inability to take care of their lead that led to their downfall against Golden State. According to the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, this was brought about by the turnovers they committed, particularly during crucial stretches in the game. Advertisement The Fever entered the fourth quarter with a 59-55 lead, and it looked like they were primed to take their third straight win. The Valkyries, however, came out firing in the fourth, and ended up outscoring Indiana, 33-18, in the final frame. The silver lining here is that Clark and the Fever are well aware of the main issue that led to their loss on Thursday, which means that this is an area that they can focus on and improve at in their next games. Related: Indiana Fever Make Historic Announcement During Valkyries Game Related: Indiana Fever's Sophie Cunningham Turns Heads After Exciting Personal News Related: WNBA Makes Caitlin Clark Announcement After Fever-Sun Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.

2025 NBA Finals: Pacers Bury Unwanted Emotion, Force Game 7 Vs Thunder
2025 NBA Finals: Pacers Bury Unwanted Emotion, Force Game 7 Vs Thunder

Forbes

time37 minutes ago

  • Forbes

2025 NBA Finals: Pacers Bury Unwanted Emotion, Force Game 7 Vs Thunder

Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace ... More defends during the second half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) INDIANAPOLIS — Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals was just 50 minutes away, and Indiana Pacers forward James Johnson needed a hand fulfilling one of his unofficial team duties. A key veteran voice for the blue and gold, Johnson was searching for a way to motivate his group ahead of a game in which they were fighting off elimination. Down 3-2 in the series, he wanted to write a quote on the locker room whiteboard. Something powerful and inspiring. But there was one problem. Johnson's handwriting isn't great. 'Who's a good writer?' Johnson called out. Bennedict Mathurin, celebrating his 23rd birthday, stepped up. Mathurin, competitive as ever, wants to be the best at everything, even penmanship. He grabbed a red marker. Johnson recited the quote, an old Muhammad Ali line about rising after a fall, word by word. Mathurin carefully scribbled it out, and the two worked together to get the spacing just right. 45 minutes before tipoff, they were done. Every player who walked through the locker room — all of them required to at least once — would see Mathurin's handiwork and Johnson's message. The Pacers were going to need to heed the words printed in ink. They were down in the Finals and facing elimination for the first time of the postseason. A win was required, and they needed to recover after consecutive losses. Their opponent, the Oklahoma City Thunder, won 68 games this season. Individual brilliance — while helpful, as Mathurin proved in Game 3 — is not enough to beat them. It takes a total team effort and sustained resilience. Johnson wanted to remind everyone of that before the pivotal battle. It was a new situation for the Pacers, who have largely cruised through in this postseason until this series. Now, they were navigating new emotions as they faced a series defeat on the biggest stage the NBA provides. Nerves, pressure, and urgency all appeared. Getting their mentality right was critical, and that's part of Johnson's role. Wing Aaron Nesmith, who has played in an NBA Finals before, was asked later Thursday night which of his teammates helped steady the locker room. '[Johnson] is always good about it,' Nemith began before talking about veteran forward Pascal Siakam. Nesmith feels as if it's important to be even-keeled in a one-game setting, and experienced teammates help everyone else stay grounded. So a small moment — one player who wanted a motivational quote on the whiteboard, another one eager to write it — became something bigger. It helped stabilize the locker room. And that quiet clarity carried over to the court, where the Pacers delivered one of their strongest performances of the season, hammering the Thunder and giving Gainbridge Fieldhouse one last moment to celebrate this season. What did James Johnson's message mean for the Pacers in Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals? The Ali quote Johnson chose about getting up after being knocked down felt prophetic almost immediately. Indiana lost Game 5, and OKC took a 10-2 lead within the first four minutes of action in Game 6. The Pacers were reeling and watching their chance at a title slip away. They took a timeout and needed to rise once again. Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) celebrates with forward James Johnson (16) during the second ... More half of Game 6 of the NBA Finals basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thursday, June 19, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) The next 40 minutes of play were all about the Pacers getting up after being knocked down. That eight-point deficit was erased in 45 seconds. Indiana led barely two minutes after talking things over, and their edge grew as high as nine in the first quarter. They started off slow after two straight defeats and were pinned to the mat, but they battled back again. It was the response Johnson envisioned. But the Thunder pushed again in the second quarter, trimming the lead to one with 9:29 left. Rick Carlisle, the Pacers veteran head coach who has guided his team with sage adjustments throughout this postseason run, stopped the game to talk things over. That changed everything. Indiana erupted, going on a 32-11 run. Their lead was 22 at halftime, and the Indy crowd was electric. So were the Pacers, who rolled through the third quarter and carried a 30-point cushion into the fourth. That was enough to coast the rest of the way and take Game 6 108-91. The blue and gold responded, again. The message to rise had been received. Now the series is tied 3-3, heading to a winner-take-all Game 7. 'We continue to be us no matter what,' Siakam said postgame. 'I think that's what makes us who we are.' The Pacers, at every turn, are prepared to fight back. When they're down in a series, or down in a game, they've proven that they can even things up. Some of that comes from talent. Other parts of it come from leadership. The day before Game 6, Pacers center Myles Turner was asked about inspiration, and specifically if Carlisle had applied any motivational tactics to boost the team mentally. The answer was yes, but Turner didn't think his coach should have to. In his eyes, the team's overall pride should be enough of a motivating factor. After Game 6, Turner sat at his locker composed. He was stoic yet in a good mood, listening to Seal's 'Kiss From a Rose'. He recalled a similar moment from last season when the Pacers were down 3-2 against the New York Knicks in the second round. They won that series in seven games. Repeating that success is their hope, and Johnson did everything in his power to make it happen. And in a fitting twist, the veteran forward that played just 37 total minutes during the regular season checked into Game 6 with 3:04 remaining. He was getting NBA Finals court time on the same night that his off-court value was so deeply felt. During Johnson's three years with the Pacers, he's become a crowd favorite as Indiana fans learn more about his true value to the franchise. As he entered the game, Gainbridge Fieldhouse roared with excitement. When he was ejected with 57 seconds left for slapping Dillon Jones, those roars returned. Fans were cheering for him the same way he cheered on his teammates with motivational quotes before the game. They were rooting for a leader that made sure any unwanted emotions were gone. Johnson's teammates heard the message, and they all earned another chance to play in the 2025 NBA Finals. It's a Game 7 on Sunday for the championship, and the Pacers don't have the opportunity without its veterans.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store