Numbers That Matter: No. 2 Indiana vs. Penn State
Over the course of the season, we’ll look into many of those numbers ahead of the Indiana Hoosiers’ matchups each week, so be on the lookout for that!
Without further ado, let’s get into it:
The Reactionary Take: IUFB Non Con Thoughts + Illinois
I decided that I wasn’t going to really get into the Indiana State game because that was just such a beating that it’s hard to take a ton away from it.
That said, I have to shout out a couple guys where I’ll give some thoughts overall on their play in the ISU game and some more macro thoughts:
Nowakowski’s Grit Earns Cignetti’s Praise
Tight end Riley Nowakowski may not fill the stat sheet, but his toughness and selfless play stood out in Indiana’s 56–9 win. Praised by Curt Cignetti as the offensive player of the game, Nowakowski’s blocking and versatility continue to fuel the Hoosiers’ success.
Riley Nowakowski Ready to Play “Hard-Nosed” and “Downhill”
One of the keys to Indiana’s success last season was the emergence of “do it all” tight end Zach Horton. Horton was a dominant blocker leading the way for IU’s running backs while also being a reliable target in the passing game. After Horton signed with the Lions as an UDFA following the 2024 season, IU needed someone to fill his shoes. Enter Riley Nowakowski.
Spring Football 2025 – Tight End Preview, Depth Chart and Superlatives
Written by: Ben Gillard (@benjgillard)
2024 was a milestone and memorable season for the Indiana Hoosiers. Curt Cignetti’s first season in Bloomington resulted in a stunning 11-1 regular season record with the lone loss coming in Columbus against eventual National Champion Ohio State. Indiana made the College Football Playoff and battled Notre Dame before falling in South Bend and ending the season at 11-2. It was a school-record for wins and Curt Cignetti was honored as the National Coach of the Year. As IU begins preparations for the 2025 campaign, there is an unprecedented amount of attention on the program. Hoosier Huddle is gearing up for the spring with individual position group previews. Today, we examine the tight end room. IU lost Zach Horton, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism after the Hoosier tight ends had 4 touchdowns and 228 receiving yards in 2024.