Overview
- Coach Curt Cignetti, who declined to name a starter on Monday, said the QB spot will be decided based on this week’s practices and health checks.
- Josh Hoover suffered a right-arm hit in mid-October that has coincided with lower passing efficiency and recent turnovers, and he left the Minnesota game at halftime after taking a hard hit.
- Grant Wilson stepped in at Minnesota and completed 9 of 17 passes for 156 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers, giving him a credible case to start if Hoover is limited.
- The coaching decision matters for postseason odds because the winner of Saturday’s Indiana–USC game will remain in Big Ten title contention while the loser would be essentially eliminated from College Football Playoff hopes.
- Cignetti has publicly defended Hoover’s recovery this season, making the backup’s readiness more consequential after Indiana’s offense cooled following the injury.