The Indiana Hoosiers come into 2021 after a loss in the Outback Bowl finishing the season 6-2. Michael Penix Jr. will lead 17 returning starters back to the team for Indiana. Penix Jr is a proven playmaker with next level skills and potential and this team will go as far as he takes them. Indiana will lean on running back Sampson James as well as USC transfer Stephen Carr to control the back field. Ty Fryfogle is the #1 option at receiver and will get plenty of looks in a full season.
Charlton Warren has taken over as DC for Indiana and will look to keep the defense going with a standard 4-2-5. Ole Miss transfer Ryder Anderson will help beef up the Hoosiers at the Defensive end spot to lead a defense that was tops in the Big 10 last year in sacks.
Iowa will again lean on QB Spencer Petras to run their offense heading into 2021. Petras is a natural leader and shows full control of the offense leading his team too lots of wins despite having substantially normal numbers. Iowa has an offense line led by potentially the best center in the nation surrounded by guys with not a lot of snaps under their belt. Star running back Tyler Goodson can expect a lot of work early on until the line gets their feet settled.
The Hawkeyes have a hole upfront to fill with the Big 10 Defensive lineman of the year Daviyon Nixon and 2 other starters gone from 2020. Phil Parker has a lot of work ahead but has the pieces and the coaching ability to reload this Hawkeyes defense. Even with the lack of production on the defensive line Iowa has a strong core of linebackers as well as a good group of DB's that will help this defense stop opponents early in 2021.
