The 2020 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana, and competed as a member of the East Division of the Big Ten Conference. The team was led by fourth-year head coach Tom Allen.
On July 9, 2020, the Big Ten announced that member teams would only play conference games in effort to reduce issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 11, the Big Ten canceled the college football season for the fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision was reversed on September 16, with an announcement that each team would play eight games in eight weeks beginning on October 24.
Spring Game The 2020 Spring Game was scheduled to take place in Bloomington on April 17, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. However, on March 12, 2020, the Big Ten Conference canceled the remainder of all winter and spring sports seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Date Time Spring Game Site Result Source April 17 7:00 p.m. Cream vs. Crimson Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN Canceled
Offseason
Coaching changes On December 17, 2019, the Fresno State Bulldogs announced that they had hired Indiana offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer as their new head coach; DeBoer had served only one year as the Hoosiers' offensive coordinator. On January 10, 2020, Indiana announced it had promoted Nick Sheridan to offensive coordinator and running backs' coach Mike Hart to associate head coach. On January 19, 2020, Allen announced the additions of Jason Jones as safeties coach, Kevin Wright as tight ends coach and promoted former safeties coach, Kasey Teegardin, to special teams coordinator.
Transfers
Outgoing
Notable departures from the 2019 squad included:
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Coy Cronk 54 Offensive lineman 6'5" 325 Senior (Redshirt) Lafayette, Indiana Graduate transfer Cole Gest 20 Running back 5'8' 194 Senior (Redshirt) Lyndhurst, Ohio Graduate transfer Peyton Ramsey 12 Quarterback 6'2" 216 Senior (Redshirt) Cincinnati, Ohio Graduate transfer Ronnie Walker 23 Running back 5'11" 211 Sophomore Hopewell, Virginia Transferred
Incoming
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Prev. School Dylan Powell 72 Offensive lineman 6'3" 300 Senior (Redshirt) Hannibal, Missouri Graduate transfer Stanford Jovan Swann 51 Defensive line 6'2" 270 Senior (Redshirt) Greenwood, Indiana Graduate transfer Stanford Khameron Taylor 85 Tight end 6'4" 270 Senior (Redshirt) Alachua, Florida Graduate transfer South Alabama
2020 NFL draft
Hoosiers who were picked in the 2020 NFL Draft: Round Pick Player Position Team 6 209 Simon Stepaniak Guard Green Bay Packers UFA Nick Westbrook Wide receiver Tennessee Titans
Preseason
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits The Hoosiers signed a total of 20 recruits.
Preseason Big Ten poll Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2020 poll, Indiana was projected to finish fourth in the East Division.
Schedule The Hoosiers' 2020 schedule originally consisted of 7 home games and 5 away games; however, the Big Ten moved to a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hoosiers were also originally scheduled to play three non-conference games, against Western Kentucky and Ball State at home and on the road against UConn.
The Hoosiers were scheduled to host Penn State, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland and Purdue. They were scheduled to travel to Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota, Rutgers and Michigan State.
The season was canceled on August 11, 2020, but announced on September 16 that the decision had been reversed, and that the football season would begin on October 23.
On December 9, Purdue and Indiana announced a mutual one-time cancellation of the Old Oaken Bucket game scheduled for December 12 after team-related activities were paused because of an elevated number of coronavirus cases within both the Boilermakers' and Hoosiers' programs. On December 13, Purdue and Indiana came to an agreement to reschedule the Old Oaken Bucket game for one week later, on December 18; however, on December 15, both teams again decided to cancel the Friday contest, due to issues remaining on both teams with COVID complications.
Rankings
(*) Big Ten Conference members were not eligible for the Week 2 of the AP and Coaches Polls and Week 3 of the AP due to not having a scheduled season at the time.
Game summaries vs No. 8 Penn State
Statistics PSU IU First downs 27 16 Total yards 488 211 Rushes/yards 52–250 26–41 Passing yards 238 170 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–2 19–36–1 Time of possession 40:25 19:35 Team Category Player StatisticsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 24/35, 238 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Sean Clifford 17 carries, 119 yards, TD Receiving Jahan Dotson 4 receptions, 94 yards, TDIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 19/36, 170 yards, TD, INT Rushing Stevie Scott III 20 carries, 57 yards, 2 TD Receiving Miles Marshall 4 reception, 46 yards
At Rutgers
Statistics IU RUTG First downs 20 19 Total yards 347 247 Rushes/yards 40–109 33–121 Passing yards 238 126 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–26–0 22–35–3 Time of possession 32:31 27:29 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 17/26, 238 yards, 3 TD Rushing Stevie Scott III 21 carries, 81 yards Receiving Whop Philyor 5 receptions, 137 yardsRutgers Passing Noah Vedral 21/34, 130 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Kayron Adams 5 carries, 63 yards, TD Receiving Bo Melton 4 receptions, 48 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 23 Michigan
Statistics MICH IU First downs 17 28 Total yards 357 460 Rushes/yards 18–13 38–118 Passing yards 344 342 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–34–2 30–50–0 Time of possession 21:10 38:50 Team Category Player StatisticsMichigan Passing Joe Milton 18/34, 344 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Hassan Haskins 6 carries, 19 yards Receiving Ronnie Bell 6 receptions, 149 yards, TDIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 30/50, 342 yards, 3 TD Rushing Stevie Scott III 24 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Ty Fryfogle 7 reception, 142 yards, TD This was the Hoosiers' first win over Michigan since 1987.
At Michigan State
Statistics IU MSU First downs 21 9 Total yards 433 191 Rushes/yards 39–113 24–60 Passing yards 320 131 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–38–2 13–27–3 Time of possession 39:14 20:46 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 25/38, 320 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Stevie Scott III 23 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Ty Fryfogle 11 receptions, 200 yards, 2 TDMichigan State Passing Payton Thorne 10/20, 110 yards, INT Rushing Connor Heyward 5 carries, 27 yards Receiving Jayden Reed 7 receptions, 63 yards
At No. 3 Ohio State
Statistics IU OSU First downs 19 27 Total yards 490 607 Rushes/yards 16–-1 50–307 Passing yards 491 300 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 27–51–1 18–30–3 Time of possession 23:36 36:24 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 27/51, 491 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Sampson James 3 carries, 10 yards Receiving Ty Fryfogle 7 receptions, 218 yards, 3 TDOhio State Passing Justin Fields 18/30, 300 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Master Teague 26 carries, 169 yards, 2 TD Receiving Garrett Wilson 7 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TD
vs Maryland
Statistics MARY IU First downs 16 17 Total yards 300 349 Rushes/yards 25–59 48–234 Passing yards 241 115 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–36–3 11–24–0 Time of possession 23:41 36:19 Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 17/36, 241 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Peny Boone 9 carries, 35 yards Receiving Dontay Demus Jr. 6 receptions, 114 yards, TDIndiana Passing Michael Penix Jr. 6/19, 84 yards Rushing Tim Baldwin Jr. 16 carries, 106 yards Receiving Miles Marshall 2 reception, 39 yards
At No. 16 Wisconsin
Statistics IU WISC First downs 15 19 Total yards 217 342 Rushes/yards 31–87 35–140 Passing yards 130 202 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–22–0 20–34–1 Time of possession 24:52 35:08 Team Category Player StatisticsIndiana Passing Jack Tuttle 13/22, 140 yards, 2 TD Rushing Stevie Scott III 18 carries, 57 yards Receiving Whop Philyor 4 receptions, 47 yards, TDWisconsin Passing Graham Mertz 20/34, 202 yards, INT Rushing Jalen Berger 15 carries, 87 yards Receiving Jake Ferguson 5 receptions, 54 yards
vs Purdue
vs Ole Miss (Outback Bowl)
Statistics MISS IU First downs 27 26 Total yards 493 369 Rushes/yards 35–147 40–168 Passing yards 346 201 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 31–45–0 26–45–1 Time of possession 24:19 35:41 Team Category Player StatisticsOle Miss Passing Matt Corral 30/44, 342 yards, 2 TD Rushing Henry Parrish 17 carries, 63 yards Receiving Dontario Drummond 6 receptions, 110 yards, TDIndiana Passing Jack Tuttle 26/45, 201 yards, INT Rushing Stevie Scott III 19 carries, 99 yards, 2 TD Receiving Whop Philyor 18 reception, 81 yards
Roster
Awards and honors Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released Chuck Bednarik AwardTiawan MullenDBSOJuly 13, 2020Doak Walker AwardStevie ScottRBJRJuly 15, 2020Fred Biletnikoff AwardWhop PhilyorWRSRJuly 16, 2020John Mackey AwardPeyton HendershotTEJR (RS)July 17, 2020Wuerffel TrophyHarry CriderOLSRJuly 23, 2020 Maxwell Award Michael Penix Jr. QB SO (RS)July 24, 2020 Whop Philyor WR SR Stevie Scott RB JRCampbell TrophyHarry CriderOLSROctober 1, 2020Rimington TrophyOctober 14, 2020Jason WittenCollegiate Man of the YearHarry CriderOLSRNovember 17, 2020Fred Biletnikoff Award - Semi-FinalistTy FryfogleWRSRNovember 19, 2020 December 7, 2020Davey O’Brien Award - Semi-FinalistMichael Penix Jr.QBSO (RS)December 7, 2020Ray Guy Award - Semi-FinalistHaydon WhiteheadPGraduateDecember 7, 2020Broyles Award - FinalistKane WommackDefensive coordinatorDecember 15, 2020December 22, 2020Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award - Semi-FinalistTom AllenHead coachDecember 21, 2020Paul "Bear" Bryant Award - FinalistNovember 17, 2020December 22, 2020Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award - FinalistNovember 19, 2020December 22, 2020George Munger Award - FinalistDecember 23, 2020January 5, 2021
Players / Coaches of the Week + Big Ten / National Weekly AwardsJamar JohnsonB1G Co-defensive Players of the WeekOctober 26, 2020Tom AllenDodd Trophy Coach of the WeekOctober 27, 2020Charles CampbellB1G Special Teams Player of the WeekNovember 2, 2020Lou Groza Award - Star of the WeekMichael Penix Jr.Manning Award - Star of the WeekNovember 9, 2020Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award - Week 10 - Great 8Manning Award - Quarterback of the WeekNovember 12, 2020Ty FryfogleB1G Offensive Player of the WeekNovember 16, 2020November 23, 2020Michael Penix Jr.Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award - Week 12 - Great 8November 23, 2020Stevie Scott IIIB1G Offensive Player of the WeekNovember 30, 2020Micah McFaddenWalter Camp Defensive Player of the WeekDecember 6, 2020B1G Defensive Player of the WeekDecember 7, 2020Haydon WhiteheadB1G Co-Special Teams Player of the Week
B1G Conference awards