No. 5 Indiana takes title defence into Week 2 clash with Howard
Indiana opened with a 52–16 win over North Texas, while Howard enters at 1–1 after losing to Richmond.
No. 5 Indiana will face Howard on Saturday in a College Football Week 2 matchup broadcast on Big Ten Network, as the Hoosiers continue what Fox Sports describes as their national title defence.
Indiana began the campaign with a 52–16 win over North Texas. Quarterback Josh Hoover threw for 231 yards and four touchdowns in his debut, including a touchdown connection with transfer Nick Marsh.
The performance also left one defensive question, with Indiana allowing 16 points. Fox Sports noted that only Oregon in the season opener and Penn State scored more than 16 points against the Hoosiers last season.
Howard enters the matchup 1–1 after a loss to Richmond. The game represents a significant increase in competition for the Bison, with Indiana not scheduled to face a Power 4 opponent until Week 4 against Northwestern. The Hoosiers’ first scheduled ranked matchup is against Ohio State.
Fox Sports lists a 56.5-point spread at DraftKings Sportsbook, with the odds reported as current on 12 September. The outlet also noted that Indiana has scored at least 50 points 11 times over the past three seasons and averaged 52.6 points across seven games against non-Power 4 opponents during that period.
