Indiana Hoosiers - 2022 College Football Season Preview & Wins Total Prediction

The Indiana Hoosiers were 2-10 overall and 0-9 in Big Ten play during the 2021 college football regular season. Indiana has been given a wins total of 4.5. Indiana will look completely different this season with a new offensive coordinator and a new defensive coordinator as well as a new quarterback, new running backs and new wide receivers. The Hoosiers will also have a new starting middle linebacker who will be the key to the success of their defense.

The new starting quarterback for Indiana will be transfer Connor Bazalak from Missouri. In two seasons with the Tigers, Bazelak threw 23 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 66% of his passes. Donovan McCulley and Dexter Williams II will back up Bazelak. Indiana's running game is completely new as the top four rushers from last season did not return. Transfers Josh Henderson from North Carolina and Shaun Shivers from Auburn will both see plenty of action to start the season.

The receivers’ corps is also new. DJ Matthews returns but only played four games prior to a season-ending knee injury. Cam Camper, who transferred from Trinity Valley Junior College, is expected to be a key receiver for Indiana as is Emery Simmons who last season at North Carolina caught 30 passes. Jaquez Smith was redshirted last season but is expected to give Indiana an immediate downfield threat.

Last season Indiana allowed an average of 33.2 points per game after allowing an average of only 20.3 points per game the previous season. Indiana used the transfer portal to improve its defense including acquiring defensive tackle JH Tevis, who last season had 37 tackles for California and Miles Jackson who played at UCLA for two seasons. Last season's leading tackler Micah McFadden is no longer with Indiana, but Bradley Jennings Jr transferred from Miami. Cam Jones, who last season had 43 tackles for Indiana is expected to be one of the top performers on defense.

Edge rusher/ linebacker Dasan McCullogh is the highest-ranked Indiana recruit to join the Hoosiers this season. Indiana's secondary is likely its strongest unit on the defense. Jaylin Williams and Tiawan Mullen will be the top coverage guys, while safeties Bryant Fitzgerald and Devon Matthews return with plenty of talent and experience. Although Indiana's defense is not likely to be as strong as in 2020, expect the Hoosiers to improve over last season.