BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover is available for the Hoosiers’ homecoming game against Minnesota after being listed as probable earlier in the week, according to the game-day injury report.
Hoover is not included on Indiana’s final report, leaving wide receiver Davion Chandler and defensive lineman Kellan Wyatt as the only Hoosiers listed as unavailable for Saturday’s meeting with the Golden Gophers. The update removes the primary uncertainty surrounding Indiana’s offense before the No. 4 team in the country returns to Memorial Stadium.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has said Hoover has been dealing with an injury, but the quarterback has appeared in every game this season. His continued availability is particularly significant for a Hoosiers team entering the matchup with a 7-1 overall record and a 3-1 mark in Big Ten play.
Hoover has produced 18 touchdown passes against one interception this season, according to the injury report information. With the starting quarterback cleared to play, Indiana avoids a late change at the most important offensive position as it faces a Minnesota team that also has one conference loss.
Two Indiana players ruled out
Chandler, a wide receiver, and Wyatt, a defensive lineman, are the two Indiana players designated out. No other Hoosier appears on the game-day report. Backup safety Quan Sanks, who had been listed as questionable earlier in the week, is also absent from the final report and is not listed as unavailable.
| Team | Players listed out | Questionable or probable |
|---|---|---|
| Indiana | Davion Chandler, Kellan Wyatt | None listed |
| Minnesota | Nine players | None listed |
The report does not provide expected return dates or additional details about the injuries. It does, however, establish that Indiana’s available roster is considerably more settled than it appeared earlier in the week, particularly at quarterback and safety.
Minnesota arrives with nine players unavailable
Minnesota’s report lists nine players out, with no athletes designated probable or questionable. The absences include quarterback Michael Merdinger, defensive back Garrison Monroe, tight end Pierce Walsh, running back Ryan Estradea, defensive back Elisha West, defensive lineman Enoch Atewogboloa, offensive linemen Brett Carroll and Ashton Beers, and wide receiver Hayden Moore.
- Quarterback: Michael Merdinger
- Skill positions: Pierce Walsh, Ryan Estradea and Hayden Moore
- Defense and offensive line: Garrison Monroe, Elisha West, Enoch Atewogboloa, Brett Carroll and Ashton Beers
The Minnesota absences span the offense, defense and offensive line, while the team enters Bloomington at 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten. The Golden Gophers most recently defeated then-No. 15 Iowa, 13-10, at home, according to the game preview information.
A conference test at Memorial Stadium
Saturday’s game marks the first meeting between Indiana and Minnesota in five years. The matchup is also Indiana’s annual homecoming contest, giving the Hoosiers a conference game with significance beyond the standings as they try to maintain their position near the top of the national rankings.
The game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central time at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The listed forecast calls for 64-degree temperatures, overcast skies and a 7 mph east wind. CBS is listed as the television and streaming outlet, and KFXN-100.3 FM is listed as the radio station.
Indiana entered the matchup favored by 20.5 points in the supplied game information. That expectation reflects the Hoosiers’ ranking and record, but Minnesota’s recent victory over Iowa gives the visitors a conference result that Indiana cannot overlook. Both teams have lost once in Big Ten play, adding importance to a game that arrives late in the regular season.
For Indiana, the immediate personnel news is straightforward: Hoover is available, two Hoosiers are out and no additional Indiana player is listed as questionable or probable. The Hoosiers will face Minnesota with their starting quarterback having played throughout the season, while the Golden Gophers will manage a longer list of unavailable players across multiple position groups.
