Indiana Football and Opponents' CBS Sports Rankings for 2026 Season

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The 2026 Indiana Hoosiers football season is shaping up to be a thrilling ride. As the defending national champions, they’re gearing up for a challenging schedule.

Indiana sits at No. 6 in the latest CBS Sports power rankings. That puts them squarely in the mix for the College Football Playoff.

They’ll face a mix of tough opponents and intriguing matchups. Another deep run feels possible, but nothing’s guaranteed.

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Indiana’s High Preseason Ranking

That No. 6 ranking from CBS Sports? It’s a nod to what Indiana accomplished last year and the talent they bring back. Head coach Curt Cignetti leads the way, with Indiana ranking third in the Big Ten—just behind Ohio State and Texas.

There’s a real sense of confidence around this team. Experts seem to believe Indiana can hang with the best again.

Top-20 Opponents on the Schedule

Indiana’s 2026 schedule is full of high-stakes games against top-20 teams. These are the ones that could define their season:

Ohio State (No. 1): The Buckeyes come to Bloomington. It’s a huge matchup, and honestly, everyone will be watching.
Michigan (No. 16): Indiana heads to The Big House to face a Michigan squad now led by Kyle Whittingham. That place is never easy, and this one could be a grind.
USC (No. 14): Lincoln Riley brings his Trojans to Indiana. Both teams want a playoff spot, so the stakes are sky-high.
Washington (No. 19): A late-season trip to Seattle looms. This one might have major postseason consequences.

Mid-Tier and Lower-Ranked Opponents

Besides the top-20 clashes, Indiana also faces some mid-tier and lower-ranked teams. These games matter for keeping momentum and piling up wins.

Key Mid-Tier Games

The schedule includes a few teams sitting in that tricky middle range. Overlooking them would be a mistake:

Nebraska (No. 35): Indiana travels to Nebraska, where Matt Rhule is trying to turn things around. Not a walk in the park.
Minnesota (No. 40): P.J. Fleck’s Gophers come to Bloomington on Halloween. Indiana should have the edge, but you never know.
Northwestern (No. 48): With Chip Kelly running the offense and Aiden Chiles at quarterback, Northwestern could surprise some people.

Lower-Ranked Opponents

Indiana also has several games where they’re expected to control things from start to finish:

North Texas (No. 79): The season opener features a North Texas team with a new coach and key departures. Indiana should handle business.
Western Kentucky (No. 87): The Hilltoppers are steady but don’t match up well with the Hoosiers.
Rutgers (No. 64): A road trip to face a lower-tier Big Ten squad. Indiana should take care of it.
Purdue (No. 99): Purdue is the lowest-ranked team on the slate. Indiana’s dominated this rivalry lately, outscoring the Boilermakers 122-3 over the past two years. That’s almost hard to believe.

Offensive Line Depth and Development

The offensive line might be the most important piece for Indiana this season. They dealt with some injuries in spring camp, but the starting five looks strong and experienced.

Carter Smith (LT)
Drew Evans (LG)
Bray Lynch (C)
Joe Brunner (RG)
Adedamola Ajani (RT)

Depth has been a focus all offseason. Austin Leibfried and Baylor Wilkin stepped up during spring, and true freshman Sam Simpson even got a start in the spring game. You love to see young guys pushing for snaps.

Challenges and Opportunities

Keeping the offensive line healthy is going to be huge. Injuries have been an issue in the past, and they’ll need that new depth if things get dicey again.

The starters could be one of the best groups in the country. But if backups get thrown in too soon, things could get bumpy. That’s just the reality of college football, right?

Conclusion

The 2026 season’s almost here, and Indiana football looks ready to chase another shot at the College Football Playoff. They’ve got a solid lineup coming back and some pretty impressive preseason rankings.

The schedule’s tough, sure, but it’s not impossible. Those big games against top-20 teams? They’ll matter a lot. And let’s be honest, keeping the offensive line healthy could make or break the season.

If you’re a Hoosiers fan, there’s a lot to look forward to—this year could get wild.

Want to see the full schedule and check out where Indiana’s opponents are ranked? You can dive into the details here.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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