Curt Cignetti wasted no time turning Indiana into one of the Big Ten’s most exciting teams last season, thanks largely to an explosive offense. But heading into 2025, it’s the other side of the ball drawing concern.
At least that’s what one ESPN staff writer believes.
ESPN just dropped an “Area of concern for Top 25 college football teams in 2025” article, and staff writer Paolo Uggetti pointed to Indiana’s defense as the biggest question mark.
“Despite the fact that talented defensive end Mikail Kamara is returning, the transfer-heavy unit that allowed the fewest rushing yards per game in the Big Ten last season lost some key contributors,” Uggetti wrote. “Gone to the NFL are CJ West and James Carpenter, and while Indiana did not hesitate to dip into the transfer portal to reload with players such as Hosea Wheeler (Western Kentucky), Stephen Daley (Kent State), Dominique Ratcliff (Texas State) and Kellan Wyatt (Maryland), one of the Hoosiers' strongest position groups last year has a lot to prove and live up to in 2025.”
It’s a fair concern, especially when you consider how explosive Indiana’s offense was last season. The Hoosiers didn’t need a shutdown defense to win games. And with playmakers like Jamari Sharpe and D’Angelo Ponds returning in the secondary, it’s hard to view that group or the defense as a whole as a serious weakness.
At the same time, it’s important to acknowledge just how dominant Indiana’s defensive line was a year ago. West and Carpenter anchored a front that consistently shut down opposing run games and set the tone with their physicality. Replacing that kind of production will not be easy, and that is exactly what makes this year’s transition worth watching.
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Now, it’s a matter of whether the new faces can fill those shoes.
Wheeler and Daley were both disruptive at the Group of Five level, but the Big Ten is a different challenge. Ratcliff and Wyatt bring versatility and experience, but they will need to adjust quickly if Indiana hopes to avoid a drop in production.
For Cignetti, it’s the kind of challenge that comes with building a contender in the transfer portal era — fast turnarounds, high expectations, and little room for error. And while the offense seems to be in great shape heading into the fall, the defense will be under the microscope.
If Indiana wants to take the next step, it starts with proving last year’s defensive success wasn’t a one-year fluke.