Yes, it’s Howard. Yes, it’s an FCS opponent, and yes, Indiana is favored by more than 50 points. Don’t let that convince you to sleep through this one. Curt Cignetti’s Indiana has treated an early tune-up against an FCS foe as anything but a formality, and Saturday’s matchup should have the attention of every Indiana fan.
Indiana will look to extend its 17-game winning streak at noon on Saturday against a 1-1 Howard team coming off a 28-21 loss to Richmond in Week 1. Similarly to last week, the Hoosiers are heavy favorites in this matchup. But upsets can happen to seemingly lesser opponents; Rutgers and Michigan showed us that anything is possible in college football in Week 1.
Indiana left something to be desired last week against a North Texas team that was a heavy underdog. The Hoosiers dealt with injury trouble in the opener as well, and they'll be looking to get healthy and stay that way this week. Cignetti has been urging his team to flip the switch and take full control against an inferior opponent. History says Cignetti usually gets his way; how Indiana comes out of the tunnel against Howard will tell this coaching staff where the team truly stands.
Injury report
Indiana came out of the North Texas game banged up in some key areas. Running back Khobie Martin will miss an extended period of time with a fractured forearm and isn't expected back until around midseason. Both starting cornerbacks, Jamari Sharpe and A.J. Harris, were considered day-to-day through most of the week, and their availability Saturday remains uncertain. On a brighter note, freshman tight end Trevor Gibbs and freshman defensive tackle Blake Smythe, who didn’t play in Week 1, may have a chance to return on Saturday.
Three storylines to watch
1. Can Indiana's front seven clean up the tackling?
The Hoosiers' defense didn't look like itself in the opener, allowing 367 total yards and letting North Texas control the ball for more than 37 minutes. Cignetti was direct about the issues afterward, pointing to missed assignments and shaky tackling as the main culprits, and Indiana recorded 13 missed tackles on the day. Linebacker Rolijah Hardy said this week's practices have focused heavily on fixing those issues. Howard won’t compare to a Big Ten opponent, but the defense needs a clean, mistake-free day after an imperfect start to the year.
2. Who picks up Khobie Martin's carries?
With Martin out, the backfield is worth watching. Turbo Richard and Lee Beebe Jr. remain the clear top two options, and offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan's past Indiana offenses have generally spread carries beyond just two backs. Sophomore Sean Cuono was viewed as next in line entering the season; however, we've seen only two carries from Cuono during his time as a Hoosier. I would expect to see some of Sean Cuono during Saturday’s game as the Hoosiers try to patch a void left by Martin’s absence.
3. Containing Ja'Shawn Scroggins
Howard's offense runs through dual-threat quarterback Ja'Shawn Scroggins, who leads the team in both passing and rushing yardage. His efficiency numbers are rough; he comes in with just under a 45% completion percentage, and he’s been sacked eight times through two games. However, he’s shown he can beat defenses on the ground, rushing for 88 yards in two games, and he threw for 315 yards in the Bisons’ season-opening win over Alabama A&M. The Hoosiers need to be aware of Scroggins' dual-threat ability on Saturday, or he can make a defense pay the same way Tayven Jackson was able to be effective last week against this Indiana defensive front.
Indiana has to improve
How Indiana looks through 60 minutes matters against Howard. Josh Hoover had an excellent start this past Saturday, but now the question is, “Can he make it through two games without a turnover?” Indiana has to improve across the board. The Hoosiers didn’t do a good job on either side of the line of scrimmage last week. The offensive line didn’t have nearly enough push, and the defensive front fizzled out last week; that can’t happen on Saturday. With weather expected to be milder than Week 1's brutal heat, Indiana no longer has any excuses for coming out flat.
History suggests a step forward is coming: in each of the last two seasons, Indiana followed an underwhelming opener with a much more dominant Week 2 performance against an FCS opponent, winning 77-3 over Western Illinois in 2024 and 73-0 over Indiana State in 2025. A similar jump against Howard would be a strong signal heading into the bulk of the season.
Howard ranks No. 59 nationally in FCS total offense and No. 43 in total defense; the talent gap should be significant even accounting for Indiana's Week 1 hiccups. The real value in Saturday's game will come from what it reveals: Which backup pieces step up in Martin's absence, whether the corners return healthy, and whether Indiana's front seven looks like the group many expect it to be once the Hoosiers start their quest for back-to-back national championships.
