Backup quarterback Grant Wilson led Indiana football to a comeback win vs. Minnesota after Josh Hoover was benched, sparking a quarterback debate for third-year coach Curt Cignetti.
Hoover, who has been dealing with an injury, was one of the top-ranked transfer portal prospects and played well for the Hoosiers before playing through the ailment. Wilson, too, has been on the mend, dealing with the flu during Indiana's off week.
Both Hoover and Wilson were off Indiana's availability report this week, signaling both players are available against the Trojans.
But which one of them will start? Cignetti has yet to name a starter against USC, leaving coach Lincoln
Riley to guess of which quarterback he has to prepare for.
Here's what to know of Indiana's quarterback situation for Week 11:
Who will Indiana start at quarterback vs USC?
Cignetti declined to name a starting quarterback on Monday, Nov. 9, ahead of Indiana's Week 11 game.
"We'll see how the week plays out and we'll see who we trot out there," Cignetti said.
Hoover suffered an upper-body injury against Ohio State that clearly affecting his throwing motion in his last two outings. He was only 8-of-18 for 81 yards with an interception against Michigan, and was 8-of-19 for 119 yards with a touchdown to an interception in the first half against Minnesota before being benched for the second half.
"Josh Hoover has been struggling," Cignetti said on his radio show during Indiana's bye week. "And he's hurt, there's no question about that."
Wilson entered and played well, completing 9-of-17 passes for 156 yards with a game-winning touchdown in overtime. The sixth-year senior also rushed for 26 yards on four carries.
Rumors started swirling about Hoover's status against USC after he was invited onto Cignetti's weekly radio show with IU voice Don Fischer on Nov. 11. Hoover was mostly asked about his upbringing and background during the interview, with Cignetti also not touching on Indiana's quarterback situation.
Hoover was held out of practice during Indiana's bye week to rest, with backups Tyler Cherry and Jacob Bell taking most of the reps, given Wilson's illness.
It sounds like we might not know of Indiana's plans at quarterback until the game on Nov. 14.
Josh Hoover stats
- 2026 (Indiana): 124-of-206 passing (60.2%) for 1,860 yards with 18 touchdowns to two interceptions; 33 carries for 54 yards with two touchdowns
- 2025 (TCU): 272-of-413 passing (65.9%) for 3,472 yards with 29 touchdowns to 13 interceptions; 55 carries for four yards with two touchdowns
- 2024 (TCU): 313-of-471 passing (66.5%) for 3,949 yards with 27 touchdowns to 11 interceptions; 47 carries for -19 yards with four touchdowns
- 2023 (TCU): 185-of-298 passing (62.1%) for 2,206 yards with 15 touchdowns to nine interceptions; 20 carries for five yards with two touchdowns
- 2022 (TCU): 1-of-1 passing for 2 yards
Grant Wilson stats
- 2026 (Indiana): 13-of-22 passing (59.1%) for 230 yards with three touchdowns; eight carries for 71 yards with a touchdown
- 2025 (Indiana): 1-of-1 passing for five yards
- 2024 (Old Dominion): 48-of-86 passing (55.8%) for 507 yards with four touchdowns to three interceptions; 28 carries for 47 yards and a touchdown
- 2023 (Old Dominion): 178-of-312 passing (57.1%) for 2,149 yards with 17 touchdowns to eight interceptions; 130 carries for 291 yards with four touchdowns
- 2022 (Fordham): 4-of-5 passing for 41 yards with two touchdowns
- 2021 (Fordham): 6-of-8 passing for 52 yards
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will start at QB for Indiana football vs USC? Curt Cignetti isn't tipping is hand
