UCLA is just days away from joining the Big Ten. After 96 years and 123 national championships in the Pac-12, the Bruins are at the forefront of the Big Ten’s West Coast expansion. Prior to UCLA’s official move, Daily Bruin Sports will preview the football, men’s basketball and other top programs of each school.
Football
2023 record: 3-9, 1-8 Big Ten
Coach: Curt Cignetti
The 21st century has not been kind to Indiana football.
Since 2000, the Hoosiers have had just three winning seasons – the most recent of which came in the 2020 eight-game season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three years later and Indiana finished bottom of the Big Ten, winning just one game over unranked Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers’ pitfall was on offense.
Last year’s starting quarterback Brendan Sorsby – now at Cincinnati after transferring out of Bloomington – ranked No. 10 in the Big Ten with a 57% completion percentage and ranked No. 11 with 1,587 passing yards.
Indiana was also slow in the running game, finishing in the conference’s bottom five in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, with 1,441 and 13, respectively, and No. 4 in fumbles with 19.
The Hoosiers also added projected starting quarterback Kurtis Rourke from Ohio. Last season, Rourke led the team in passing yards and passing touchdowns with 2,207 and 11 respectively.
But the Hoosiers’ woes didn’t come solely from their offense.
Indiana’s defense ranked in the lower echelons of the Big Ten with 750 tackles, one defensive touchdown and eight forced fumbles through the season. They also ranked dead last in the conference with 20 sacks.
Although the squad had its occasional bright spots, those specks turned dim next year.
Linebacker Aaron Casey tied for the fourth most sacks in the Big Ten with 6.5 and was top five in tackles with 109. But after Casey was selected to the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, a large chunk of responsibility will be placed to defensive lineman Lanell Carr Jr.
Carr was a defensive stalwart for the Hoosiers last season, providing five sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Despite Indiana’s familiarity with losing, a fresh face at the helm may quell that custom.
Cignetti, the 2023 Sun Belt Coach of the Year, was hired as Indiana’s 30th head coach after spending five years at James Madison.
In his tenure with the Dukes, Cignetti achieved a 52-9 record and led his squad to a 19-4 mark over the past two seasons – its first two seasons in the FBS.
A change in command could usher a change in character.
Indiana saw 39 players leave the program and 31 players enter it – 13 of which came from James Madison with their head coach.
Of Indiana’s 31 incoming transfers is wide receiver Elijah Sarratt, who joined his coach in the transfer from James Madison. Last season, Sarratt earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors and notched 1,191 receiving yards and 82 receptions.
Indiana will have to hope that the roster Cignetti brought with him to Bloomington can live up to Big Ten expectations.
Men’s basketball
2023-2024 record: 19-14, 10-10 Big Ten
Coach: Mike Woodson
Indiana men’s basketball is a storied collegiate program.
In its day, the program is acclaimed for being Bob Knight’s home. The legendary coach holds 902 Division I men’s basketball victories and three of the five titles the Hoosiers possess.
More recently, Indiana has struggled to perform when the lights are brightest. The Hoosiers have failed to navigate the Sweet 16 since the Mike Davis-led squad lost in the NCAA Tournament final in 2002.
But barring mediocre results in March, Indiana has posted a 63-40 record since the hire of Mike Woodson as head coach. In Mike Woodson’s three seasons as head honcho, he led the squad to two NCAA Tournaments – the program’s first appearances since 2016.
Woodson – who spent 22 seasons in the NBA, nine of which as a head coach for the New York Knicks and Atlanta Hawks – will have an arsenal of incoming transfers to rely on.
The Hoosiers brought in two-time All-Pac-12 First Team and Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection Oumar Ballo from Arizona. Last season, the center averaged 13.1 points and 10.2 boards on 65.9% field goal percentage.
Guards Myles Rice and Kanaan Carlyle will also find homes in Bloomington, Indiana. Rice – the Pac-12’s leading freshman scorer – averaged 14.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.6 steals last season. The guard also shot 43.9% from the field and was given First Team All-Pac-12 honors.
Carlyle averaged 11.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, scoring double-digit figures in 15 of 23 games and captured an All-Pac-12 Freshman Team honorable mention.
Above a formidable recruiting class, Indiana will also return two of its top-three leading scorers from last season. Forward Malik Reneau averaged 15.4 points and six rebounds while shooting 55.8% from the field, while forward Mackenzie Mgbako averaged 12.2 points and 4.1 boards.
If the Hoosiers rally behind their NBA-seasoned coach and a barrage of transfers, they can regain stature as a Big Ten powerhouse.
Men’s soccer
2023 record: 15-4-5, 4-2-2 Big Ten
Coach: Todd Yeagley
Indiana sits just two championships behind St. Louis for the most titles in collegiate men’s soccer.
Like all great programs, Indiana’s success begins at the helm – led by former Hoosier himself, Todd Yeagley. Since his hire as head coach in 2009, Yeagley has won four Big Ten Coach of the Year awards. His 193 wins and five College Cup appearances are more than any Divison I head coach.
Last season, Indiana beat Penn State to take the Big Ten championship – and proceeded to reach the College Cup quarterfinals before falling in penalties to Notre Dame.
Even with the expansion of the Big Ten, the Hoosiers can be perennial contenders, particularly in 2024 with the star-studded talent they are poised to return.
Perhaps Yeagley’s key returner is forward Samuel Sarver. In 2023, Sarver ranked second in the Big Ten in goals, assists and game winning goals with eight, six and five, respectively.
Fellow forward Collins Oduro will join Sarver on Indiana’s elite attack. Oduro made a name for himself after scoring five goals – three of which were game-winning – and notching two assists last season. Indiana will also retain midfielder Patrick McDonald, who scored three goals and added five assists in 2023.
Indiana will have key parts of its offensive firepower at its disposal next season.
Skillful management of this talent could prove meteoric for Yeagley.
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