IU Will Raise the Victory Flag vs. North Texas If…

The air is changing, and there is a familiar smell that means only two things: fall is coming, and college football is at our doorsteps. For the Indiana Hoosiers, a new beginning arrives on Saturday when they face North Texas at Memorial Stadium.

An endless flow of expectations is following Indiana Football as they embark on this 2026 ride; however, third-year head coach Curt Cignetti seems unbothered. Even after winning a national championship, this year signifies a clean slate, and the Hoosiers’ performance against North Texas will pay dividends in how the rest of the season will unfold.

Saturday marks the third meeting in the series, with Indiana looking to improve to 2-1 in the all-time series against North Texas. All eyes are on the Hoosiers, as this offers more than a game but also a window into who the 2026 Indiana Hoosiers will be, and it all begins Saturday. The Hoosiers will raise the Victory Flag this week if….

Accounting for an Entirely New Team

One of the more difficult tasks for the Hoosiers will be accounting for a completely new roster North Texas has acquired. Last season, the Mean Green went 12-2; however, head coach Eric Morris took many of his players with him to Oklahoma State. As a result, North Texas brought in 49 players from the transfer portal. The portal additions are meant to offset the loss of quarterback Drew Mestemaker, running back Caleb Hawkins, and wide receiver Wyatt Young, among others. While this level of talent is difficult to replace, new head coach Neal Brown has been doing his best by bringing in multiple players with Power Four experience, as well as players with proven defensive production.

The Mean Green have added at least two players to each position, and that, along with an entirely new coaching staff, makes scouting a team much more difficult. There is no concrete film to go off of because this new group has not recorded a game together. It will be interesting to see how Cignetti has prepared his team for this game, and the extent of that preparation should be apparent early on in the matchup. There will likely be some uncertainties and a few surprises that North Texas will whip out, and Indiana will have to adjust on the fly. The Hoosiers’ ability to adjust will set the tone of the game and be instrumental to securing the victory.

Defending the Run

North Texas will look to find many of their points on the ground, and Indiana will have to prevent it. Amongst the Mean Green’s transfer additions is former West Virginia running back Jaheim White. In 2025, White recorded 24 attempts for 133 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per attempt.

Indiana’s defense must stay disciplined upfront and be able to account for gap schemes before they happen. Last year, the Hoosiers gave up 218 yards on the ground in their home opener against Old Dominion. Indiana will have to solve this issue come Saturday. There will not be much room for mistakes against this North Texas team, so having a strong Hoosier defensive line will be required.

Targeting North Texas’s Secondary

Indiana has a few clear paths to victory Saturday, starting with attacking North Texas’ depleted secondary. North Texas is missing two key corners, Cayden Jenkins, who is out for the year, and defensive back Zach Johnson, due to injuries. This gap will give Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover an opportunity to explore his playmaking ability and perhaps even experiment with what he can do. Hoover can show off his arm and find Charlie Becker or Nick Marsh deep and along the perimeter. By targeting North Texas’s vulnerable defense, Indiana should create immediate scoring chances, while also testing how deep the Mean Green’s secondary goes.

Neutralizing North Texas’s Edge Rush

UMass transfer David Onuoha and Cal transfer Curlee Thomas IV have been added to North Texas’s roster. Both players are known to generate significant pressure off the corners. In 2025 at UMass, Onuoha tallied 42 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss for 21 yards, and 2.5 sacks for 17 yards. Thomas appeared in nine games for Cal, made two starts in 2025, and recorded two tackles.

Onuoha will clearly be one of North Texas’s impact players, and Josh Hoover’s ability to play well under pressure will be instrumental to Indiana’s success. This will also serve as a significant test for the Hoosiers’ offensive line, as fans will see how well this unit can prevent penetration and give Hoover time to make plays.