Indiana Football is entering Spring Practice 2026 with a completely different reality…

The Hoosiers are no longer the hunter—they’re the hunted.

In this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff breaks down the biggest questions facing Indiana as they look to defend their standard heading into the new season.

We dive into the quarterback battle featuring Josh Hoover, Grant Wilson, and the return of Tyler Cherry, plus a running back room looking to replace the production of Hemby and Black.

On the defensive side, we go position-by-position through the depth chart, highlighting key names like Obiazor, Burnham, Tucker, Baldwin Jr., and a secondary that continues to evolve.

• Hunter vs Hunted mentality shift

• QB competition breakdown

• RB room reloaded

• WR playmaker questions

• Offensive line updates (Carter Smith injury impact)

• Full defensive depth chart analysis

• Spring Practice expectations.

Indiana Has Talent.

Now they have to prove they can handle the pressure.

Because being the hunted changes everything.

New episodes of Hoosier Football Tailgate dropping weekly with analysis, film breakdown, and all things Indiana Football.

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Spring Practice is here in Bloomington—and it’s more than just football.

In this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff is joined by Zach Browning from TheHoosier.com to break down everything you need to know as Indiana opens Spring Practice.

We start with the latest around college football, including transfer portal movement, NIL impact, and the Big Ten landscape—then shift to Bloomington, where a strong group of 2027 and 2028 recruits are visiting campus during a critical recruiting window.

From there, we dive into what coaches are really evaluating early in spring ball and the position battles that could shape Indiana’s roster heading into the season.

🏈 Recruiting visitors and what they mean for the future

🏈 Spring Practice expectations and early storylines

🏈 Key position battles: QB, OL, WR, and defense

🏈 Day 1 buzz and what to watch moving forward

Spring Practice isn’t just about today—it’s about building what’s next.

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Indiana football wraps up its transfer portal additions with two key defensive pieces — Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame) and Joe Hjelle (Tulsa) — as the Hoosiers continue building a Big Ten-ready defensive front.

🔴 Burnham (6’4, 260 | RS Senior) brings edge size, length, and pass rush upside

🔴 Hjelle (6’3, 300) adds interior strength and rotational depth

But before the player breakdowns, Coach Griff opens the show with a major college football topic:

🏈 Is the SEC & Big Ten power shift pulling control away from the NCAA?

⚖️ What role will antitrust exemption and collective bargaining play?

💰 How does revenue sharing reshape the future of the sport?

This episode connects the big-picture future of college football with how Indiana is building its roster right now.

• NCAA control vs conference power

• SEC & Big Ten dominance

• Collective bargaining & antitrust discussion

• What it means for Indiana football

• Joshua Burnham player breakdown

• Joe Hjelle player breakdown

• Defensive line outlook

Indiana isn’t just reacting — they’re positioning themselves inside the Big Ten to compete in the next era of college football.

Hosted by Coach Griff (Shannon Griffith) — former Division 1 QB Coach and Head Coach — delivering real football insight, player evaluation, and IU coverage.

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