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.

Don’t miss weekly Indiana Football coverage—subscribe and follow Hoosier Football Tailgate for in-depth analysis, recruiting updates, and insider perspective.

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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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Indiana continues to build its defense through the transfer portal, and on this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff takes a closer look at two new additions to the Hoosier secondary.

Former Penn State corner AJ Harris brings size, length, and Big Ten experience to the outside, while Jiquan Sanks from Cincinnati adds versatility and physicality to the defensive backfield.

In this episode, Coach Griff heads into the film room to break down what both players bring to Indiana’s defense, examining their coverage skills, strengths on tape, and how they may fit into the Hoosiers’ defensive system.

Topics include:

• AJ Harris player profile and film breakdown

• Jiquan Sanks player profile and film breakdown

• How both transfers impact Indiana’s secondary

• What their additions mean for the Hoosiers moving forward

Hoosier Football Tailgate is hosted by Coach Shannon “Coach Griff” Griffith, former college head coach and Lead Analyst for TheHoosier.com, bringing fans a coach’s perspective on Indiana football.

On this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff breaks down two key transfer portal additions to the Indiana Hoosiers football defense — edge rushers Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi, both arriving from the Kansas State Wildcats.

Coach Griff analyzes their 2025 production, film traits, and how their skill sets complement each other as Indiana reloads its pass rush.

Before diving into the portal additions, the show also examines a major storyline for the program: nine Hoosiers earning invitations to the NFL Combine, a strong sign of Indiana’s growing reputation for developing NFL-caliber talent.

In this episode:

• What nine Indiana players at the Combine says about the program

• What makes a great edge rusher in today’s college football defenses

• Film breakdown of Chiddi Obiazor

• Film breakdown of Tobi Osunsanmi

• Why the duo could make third down a problem for Big Ten offenses

If Indiana continues producing NFL talent while adding disruptive players through the portal, the Hoosiers’ defensive ceiling may be higher than ever.

🎙 Hoosier Football Tailgate with Coach Griff

Louis Moore has officially dropped his lawsuit against the NCAA — but what does that actually mean for Indiana Football?

In this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff breaks down the legal timeline, explains why the NCAA is still pursuing appellate clarity, and separates fact from fiction surrounding the rule of restitution.

Could Indiana have wins vacated?

Is the National Championship at risk?

What authority does the NCAA actually have over the College Football Playoff?

We dive into:

• Why Moore dismissed the lawsuit

• What the NCAA’s appeal really means

• The truth about the rule of restitution

• Worst-case vs most likely outcomes

• Why the CFP title is not under NCAA control

There’s been a lot of noise around this story — this episode provides context, clarity, and calm analysis.

Stay informed. Not alarmed.

Indiana continues to build through the transfer portal — and in this episode of Hoosier Football Tailgate, Coach Griff takes you inside the film room to break down two key additions to the Hoosiers secondary.

Wisconsin safety Preston Zachman and Montana State corner Carson Williams bring different skill sets, but both add experience, toughness, and versatility to Indiana’s defense.

We go to the tape to evaluate what each player does well, how they fit within the defensive scheme, and what their additions mean for the depth, competition, and overall ceiling of the Hoosiers heading into the season.

If you love real football analysis and coaching insight, this episode is for you.

• Film breakdown of Preston Zachman

• Film breakdown of Carson Williams

• Scheme fit in Indiana’s defense

• Secondary depth outlook

• Portal impact analysis

• Defensive ceiling discussion

Follow Hoosier Football Tailgate for weekly Indiana football analysis, portal updates, recruiting insights, and game breakdowns.

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Indiana continues to build through the transfer portal — and in Week 3 of our Portal Impact Series, we break down two additions that matter in the trenches and in the red zone.

Coach Griff takes a film-driven look at:

🧱 Joe Brunner (OL – Wisconsin)

– Big Ten toughness and technique

– Offensive line depth and competition

– Why stability up front wins in November

🏈 Brock Schott (TE – Miami)

– Versatility in 12 personnel

– Red-zone weapon potential

– How he expands Indiana’s offensive flexibility

This episode isn’t about hype — it’s about fit, physicality, and roster construction. If you want real football evaluation and Big Ten insight, this one’s for you.

Indiana is building with intention.

And it starts up front.