Indiana opens title defense with 52-16 win

No. 6 Indiana opened its national championship defense with a dominant 52-16 victory over North Texas on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in Bloomington, Indiana. The win extended the Hoosiers' FBS-leading active winning streak to 17 games and their home winning streak to 16 games. Quarterback Josh Hoover, a transfer from TCU, made a stellar debut for the defending champions. He threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns, completing 13 of 16 passes without an interception. His first pass as a Hoosier was a 15-yard touchdown strike to Nick Marsh, giving Indiana a 7-0 lead just 84 seconds into the game. Hoover later sustained a cut on his nose in the second quarter but remained in the game after being evaluated for a concussion. "Josh made a significant stride in fall camp. I was confident and thought he played with a lot of confidence today," Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said after the game. Running back Turbo Richard, a transfer from Boston College, contributed two rushing touchdowns and 58 yards on 15 carries. Wide receiver Charlie Becker caught two touchdown passes, while Davion Chandler also had a scoring reception.