Indiana
Indiana’s Curt Cignetti Wants Changes to College Football Calendar, Seeks Commissioner
As Indiana football readies for perhaps the biggest game in school history, the program must have at least partial attention on the day immediately after.
The No. 1 Hoosiers face No. 9 Alabama at 4 p.m. ET Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Eight hours after kickoff in Pasadena, Calif., the NCAA’s lone transfer portal window opens. It spans from Jan. 2-16.
Indiana, with one of college football’s oldest rosters, will have to re-load in some capacity during the portal period. Yet if the Hoosiers win the Rose Bowl and play in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 9, they’ll spend at least half the transfer window preparing to play in the College Football Playoff semifinals while juggling portal recruiting. The process repeats if Indiana advances to the national championship.
To Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, the timing of events — be it the College Football Playoff games or the opening of the transfer window — needs attention. He feels his belief is in the majority among others within the coaching profession.
“I definitely think the calendar could be improved, and that would be unanimous amongst the coaches,” Cignetti told reporters Monday over Zoom. “And whether you got to move the start of the regular season up a week and then start playing in the playoffs when the season ends, so there’s a little bit better time to devote to high school recruiting and portal recruiting.
“We’re all looking, I think, for that solution.”
Cignetti issued a similar message earlier this season in an Oct. 20 press conference. He noted the spring transfer portal window has been valuable to Indiana, which landed cornerback D’Angelo Ponds and defensive tackles Tyrique Tucker and C.J. West after spring practice in 2024 and defensive ends Kellan Wyatt and Stephen Daley in 2025.
Now, there’s no spring transfer window, and the winter portal entrance date has been moved backward.
In 2024, players were free to enter the portal from Dec. 9-28. Cignetti noted it hurt a few schools who were still playing — eventual national champion Ohio State, which lost backup quarterback Devin Brown to the portal, among them — but now, there’s an odd window where players can announce their intentions to enter the portal and, unless their coach has been fired or left for another job, have to wait until Jan. 2.
“The rules, the way they are right now, I hope we take a good, hard look at what we’re doing,” Cignetti said in October. “I don’t quite understand, all these players are making decisions pretty much the end of November, what they’re doing. Then the whole month of December’s dead. Like, what are you supposed to do those 30 days, right?”
Cignetti implied the previous period, which allowed more contact, visits and recruiting in December, worked much better for a vast majority of schools — even if it was an inconvenience in some respects for College Football Playoff teams.
“I am not a big fan of what we’re doing,” Cignetti said. “To me, having the January 2nd portal date, like we start school January (12th). Doesn’t make a lot of sense. I don’t think the rules should be changed for two or three coaches that really had a problem with it because they were still playing.
“I mean, I think you got to look at the other schools, the other 75 or how many there are, P4 schools also.”
So, what’s the solution? Cignetti pitched the idea of, effectively, adding a college football commissioner.
“What you’re dealing with in college football is, just, you don’t have one guy in charge,” Cignetti said Dec. 22. “If you had one person calling the shots, I think it would be a lot cleaner. So, hopefully we’ll make some progress in that regard.”
During Indiana’s 12-day gap between earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and learning the outcome between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama, Cignetti spent time focusing on the Hoosiers’ future rosters.
Cignetti said he had 95% of the necessary retention conversations with players who have decisions to make about their future. Much of his attention, he said, was turned toward the 2027 roster.
But for Cignetti, who noted in July at Big Ten Media Day he’s also the Hoosiers’ general manager, the transfer portal is an unavoidable swimming pool of talent — one Indiana will be dipping its toes into once more this winter.
And much to Cignetti’s chagrin, the Hoosiers will be forced to do so immediately upon returning from Pasadena.
“That’s my thing right now,” Cignetti said in October. “You just don’t get off the portal in one year, two years. There’s going to be portal needs this year.”
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Josh Hoover is replacing a guy who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana football to a national championship. No pressure there, right?
Being the guy who replaces the guy brings Hoover the distinction as the top college football transfer entering the 2026 season, according to Billy Tucker of ESPN.
The Hoosiers have four players on this 100-player list, three of them in the top 20.
According to the story: “Each player is ranked based on a team’s need and what physical skill set they bring to their new team.”
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Need: “With Fernando Mendoza off to the NFL and backup Alberto Mendoza having transferred to Georgia Tech, the Hoosiers needed another experienced passer capable of sustaining College Football Playoff expectations in Bloomington. Indiana has become one of the portal’s premier destinations for quarterbacks, and Hoover, who transferred from TCU, is next in line after Kurtis Rourke and national champion and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza.”
Value: “Hoover gives (coach) Curt Cignetti extensive experience, skill and production after throwing for 9,629 yards and 71 touchdowns at TCU. He is a confident gunslinger who thrives pushing the ball vertically and operating within RPO concepts. His swagger and aggressiveness should unlock explosive plays through the air, albeit with some volatility. Hoover has 42 career turnovers and only one season without double-digit interceptions.”
No. 11: Nick Marsh, Indiana wide receiver
Need: “Marsh is a proven No. 1 receiver as the Hoosiers transition to a new era at the position after Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt moved on to the NFL. They couldn’t afford to wait on a younger, more projectable receiver. Marsh instead is a ready-made top target and established focal point. He should be the clear primary receiving option.”
Value: “A former ESPN 300 recruit, Marsh led Michigan State in receiving in back-to-back seasons, totaling 100 catches for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns. At 6-3, 203 pounds, he brings Big Ten-ready size paired with vertical speed, allowing him to win downfield and on contested 50-50 opportunities. He is effective as a deep threat and as a physical receiver who can work through contact. Cignetti saw Marsh’s ability up close. He had 12 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns across two games against Indiana, reinforcing his ability to elevate the passing attack immediately.”
No. 18: Tobi Osunsanmi, Indiana edge rusher
Need: “Adding Osunsanmi, a Kansas State transfer, will help Indiana reload for its national title defense. The Hoosiers lost Mikail Kamara, Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt, creating a clear need along the defensive front. Osunsanmi is an ideal plug-and-play addition. The versatile pass rusher should translate fluidly to defensive coordinator Bryant Haines’ scheme.”
Value: “Osunsanmi suffered a season-ending injury that forced him to miss the second half of last season, but he flashed during the spring, creating havoc up front. He brings a strong combination of speed and power to pressure offensive tackles. His power allows him to play stout at the point of attack, set the edge or walk blockers back into the backfield to collapse the pocket. He also has the quickness and agility to win on loops and stunts, along with a motor that shows up in pursuit outside the box.”
Need: “The Hoosiers lost their two leading rushers from last season’s championship team with running backs Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black, who combined for 2,160 yards, off to the NFL. Though they return two other productive backs in Khobie Martin and Lee Beebe Jr., they also added production in the transfer portal with Richard, a Boston College back with a scheme-fitting skill set. The 5-8 rusher didn’t have many Power 4 offers out of high school, but one of the first programs to offer him was James Madison when Cignetti was at the helm.”
Value: “Richard had a very productive season in 2025 with 749 yards on the ground. He has a compact build that helps him play with a low center of gravity and the ability to break tackles. His running style is patient as he has a good feel to cut off the backside of blocks. He runs behind his pads and finishes runs with good demeanor. As a receiver out of the backfield, he also provides a reliable checkdown option. Cignetti noted that he liked what Richard did this spring as he will have the opportunity to be impactful and a reliable option at running back for an Indiana team that is looking to repeat.”
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Two future Boilermakers are taking the floor and will go head-to-head during Indiana All-Star Week. 2026 signee Luke Ertel and 2027 commit Isaiah Hill are battling it out on Wednesday, June 3, as the Indiana All-Stars will play the Indiana Junior All-Stars.
Wednesday will be the third time Ertel and Hill have played against each other this season. During the IHSAA basketball season, Ertel’s Mt. Vernon team took on Hill’s Pike squad twice.
Hill led the Red Devils to an 84-81 overtime victory during the regular season. In the Regional of the Class 4A IHSAA Basketball Tournament, Ertel guided Mt. Vernon to a 57-54 overtime victory. The Marauders went on to win the state championship.
Who will win the third and decisive battle between the future Boilermakers on Wednesday? Here’s the information necessary to watch the game.
How to watch the Indiana All-Star Game
- What — Indiana Junior All-Stars vs. Indiana All-Stars
- When — Wednesday, June 3, 2026
- Where — Mt. Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind.
- Tipoff time — 8 p.m. ET (approx.)
- Ticket price — $15
- Stream — ISC Indiana Sports Network YouTube Channel
Hill participated in Indiana-Kentucky Jr. All-Star Game
Wednesday night’s Junior-Senior All-Star Game will be the second time Hill has competed during Indiana All-Star Week. The Pike star and five-star center also played in Sunday’s Indiana-Kentucky Junior All-Star Game.
Hill put together a solid performance, scoring 15 points, grabbing a team-high seven rebounds and recording three blocks. His efforts helped lead Indiana to a 109-99 victory over Kentucky.
Ertel and the Indiana All-Stars have not yet played during Indiana All-Star Week, with their first game scheduled for Wednesday against the Junior All-Stars. Then, to close out the week, Ertel will participate in the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star Series, with games being played in Lexington and Indianapolis.
Ertel, Hill highly rated recruits in respective classes
There’s already plenty of hype surrounding Ertel and Hill, both players who are highly-ranked recruits in their respective classes.
Ertel is the top-ranked player from Indiana in the 2026 recruiting class and is considered a top-50 prospect by 247Sports. He was named Indiana Mr. Basketball, averaging 24.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game in his senior season at Mt. Vernon.
Hill is a year younger, but became the highest-ranked recruit ever to commit to play at Purdue. The 2027 product was a star at Pike High School during his junior season, averaging 12.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 4.3 blocks per game. He is a five-star prospect and ranked as the No. 10 player in the class, per ESPN.
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GASTON, Ind. (WKRC) – An Indiana man was accused of sexually assaulting a young homeless woman in a barn.
According to WXIN, 34-year-old Dale E. Bosworth was arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a homeless 18-year-old woman in a barn after the two connected through social media.
WXIN reported that Bosworth picked up the woman on May 24 while visiting Kokomo, Indiana, and brought her back to his home after seeing a Facebook post in which she said she had no money and nowhere to stay.
Court documents obtained and reviewed by WXIN state that Bosworth and his wife picked up the woman in a truck around 10 p.m. and drove her to their home. The woman stayed the night and was later offered $100 to perform work in a barn in Delaware County.
According to WXIN, Bosworth drove the woman to a friend’s barn in Gaston, Indiana. While the two were alone, Bosworth allegedly asked if she wanted to “fool around.” The woman told law enforcement she did not respond to the question. Bosworth then allegedly began rubbing her back and unzipped his overalls.
WXIN reported that Bosworth is accused of sexually assaulting the woman until he heard a noise near the barn. He later allegedly told his friend that the woman was refusing to work and that he needed to take her back to his home.
During the drive back to Marion, Indiana, the woman used the “Texty” app to contact Grant County 911 and reported that she had been raped, according to WXIN.
Authorities in Grant County then contacted the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies later located and stopped Bosworth’s vehicle, per the report.
While being questioned by investigators, Bosworth reportedly admitted that the woman had stayed at his home. Court documents reviewed by WXIN state that he spent “well over 20 minutes” explaining how he came to be alone with the alleged victim while denying any sexual contact.
When asked whether his DNA would be found on the woman’s body, Bosworth allegedly admitted to certain sexual acts. According to WXIN, he told investigators that the woman “did not say yes or no” when he asked her to undress and engage in sexual intercourse, but claimed she “looked at him” when he asked.
Authorities said Bosworth later admitted to portions of the assault after initially providing false statements and reportedly told investigators that “cops freak him out,” according to the report.
Bosworth was arrested and charged with the following, per WXIN:
According to WXIN, investigators determined that Bosworth knowingly and intentionally caused the woman to submit to sexual conduct, which constitutes rape under Indiana law.
He is being held without bond at the Delaware County Jail, WXIN reported.
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