Indiana Hoosiers:

The last three years of the Tom Allen era were depressing, with the Hoosiers going 9-27, including 3-24 in Big Ten games. Six of the victories came against Idaho (twice), Western Kentucky (twice), Indiana State and Akron. Hope is blooming in Bloomington with the arrival of new coach Curt Cignetti, who won 19 games at James Madison the last two years. Cignetti assembled a good-looking coaching staff and a promising recruiting class with a transfer quarterback. Indiana could go bowling and will not be relegated to the conference basement again this season.

Offense

Kurtis Rourke started 34 games in four seasons at Ohio and passed for 7,651 yards and 50 touchdowns. The 6-foot-5 former Mid-American Conference Player of the Year turns 24 in October. It’s easy to see why Cignetti pursued the transfer QB. Rourke’s backup is promising sophomore Tayven Jackson. Cignetti also brought running back Kaelon Black, wideout Elijah Sarratt and tight end Zach Horton with him from James Madison. Black was the Dukes’ leading rusher, and Sarratt made 82 receptions for 1,191 yards. The line is loaded with experienced players, including James Madison transfer guard Nick Kidwell and Wisconsin transfer tackle Trey Wedig. Rourke’s final season for the Bobcats represented a step back, but he should bounce back at Indiana, where Cignetti is surrounding him with talented veterans.

 

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Defense

Cignetti brought several transfers from James Madison and at least four are expected to start on Indiana’s defense. Junior middle linebacker Aiden Fisher was a star for the Dukes and will lead the Hoosiers, who take on an entirely new look with transfers also arriving from Stanford, Texas, UCLA and Kent State. It’s not a defense with NFL prospects, but there are some pieces and the coaching staff can figure out the puzzle.

Outlook

The Hoosiers typically line up a cupcake non-conference schedule (VSiN analyst and Indiana graduate Wes Reynolds makes no apologies for that) in a desperate attempt to launch themselves toward six wins and a bowl. This schedule opens with Florida International, Western Illinois and Charlotte. Indiana plays five games in September — also going to UCLA and hosting Maryland — and has a shot to emerge 4-1 before getting to the meat of the Big Ten grind. Cignetti is a winner and his team will play hard and improve. The Hoosiers upset Wisconsin last year and probably will pull off an upset or two in league play this year.

Pick: Over 5.5 Wins

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