Countdown to 2026 Indiana Football- 70 Days Austin Leibfried

The memories of IU’s unprecedented and historic unbeaten run to the National Championship are still fresh in our minds, but the work is just beginning for the 2026-2027 Indiana Hoosiers. As Curt Cignetti and his staff gear up for year number three in Bloomington and embark on a quest to become repeat champs, Hoosier Huddle’s Countdown to Kickoff rolls on with offensive lineman Austin Leibfried!

Height: 6’6”

Weight: 300 pounds 

Hometown: Mount Horeb, Wisconsin (Mount Horeb High School)

Class/Position: Redshirt Sophomore/Offensive Line

Much of the success for the remarkable turnaround of the Indiana football program goes to stars like Fernando Mendoza or Elijah Sarratt or defensive studs like Mikail Kamara or even coaches like Curt Cignetti and Bryant Haines.

While each of those elements absolutely deserve credit, Indiana does not sniff the College Football Playoff or a 16-0 season without the amazing performance of the offensive line. Bob Bostad’s unit has been rock solid in each of the past two seasons and the big boys upfront helped IU average more than 200 yards per game on the ground in 2025/2026. The Indiana Hoosiers averaged 39.5 points per game (against FBS opponents), the third-best mark in the country and none of that would be possible without a great offensive line.

The Hoosiers lose a couple of pieces from that unit but they return four starters and added former Wisconsin guard and All-Big Ten member Joe Brunner. That means the battle is on among the underclassmen for spots on the depth chart and opportunities to get valuable snaps for development. Redshirt sophomore Austin Leibfried is one of the contenders for a backup role and he is the focus of today’s countdown feature.

Austin Leibfried is a redshirt sophomore who is now entering his third season in the program. He joined IU after a standout career at Mount Horeb High School in Wisconsin and he chose Indiana over offers from several Big Ten programs including his home-state Wisconsin Badgers. The connection and relationship with former Wisconsin assistant Bob Bostad was the pull and he was a member of Curt Cignetti’s original recruiting class at Indiana.

Leibfried was a varsity athlete in football, basketball and track and field while in high school and that athleticism stood out early in his career as he appeared in four games as a true freshman in 2024. As a redshirt freshman last season, Leibfried was one of the primary backup tackles and he saw playing time in nine games including extended time against Indiana State, Maryland and Purdue. Leibfried has added to his frame and he now looks like an ideal Big Ten offensive tackle.

With Carter Smith entering his final season at left tackle before he departs for the NFL, there will be a real chance for Leibfried to inherit a spot as a starter for the 2027 season. For now, he’ll continue to develop and earn time as a backup and he could be called upon if either Adedamola Ajani or Carter Smith misses any snaps due to injury.

The countdown continues each day on Hoosier Huddle until IU kicks off the 2026 season against the North Texas Mean Green!