A Historic First Meeting
Indiana University Athletics will welcome the Howard Bison to Memorial Stadium in Bloomington on September 12, 2026, in what promises to be a historic first‑ever meeting between the two programs. The game serves as the second home contest of the season for the Hoosiers, who enter the matchup with a 1‑1 record, while Howard arrives after a 31‑24 victory over Alabama A&M and a 28‑21 loss to Richmond the week before.
This matchup is part of a packed early slate for Indiana, which has secured two of its eight home games and will begin a stretch of four consecutive home contests to start the 2026 campaign.
Howard's Early Season Momentum
Howard, under first‑year head coach Ted White, opened its season with a 31‑24 triumph in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge, a result that underscores the Bison’s ability to compete at a high level right out of the gate.
Among the standout Hoosiers, Turbo Richard has already logged his fifth career multi‑touchdown game and his fourth with multiple rushing scores since making his Indiana debut, while Nico Radicic has ascended to become the program’s all‑time leader in extra points, surpassing the previous mark held by Mitch Ewald.
Additional contributors include Lee Beebe Jr., who returned from injury with a 67‑yard kickoff return and 33 yards on the ground, Isaiah Jones, who recorded a career‑high 12 tackles in his first double‑digit game, and Charlie Becker, who notched his first multi‑receiving touchdown in his Indiana debut. Defensive playmakers such as Quan Sanks and the transfer duo of Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi have also made immediate impacts.
Head coach Curt Cignetti, who has guided the program since 2024, has overseen six prior first‑time matchups, including contests against Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Alabama, Western Illinois, UCLA and Charlotte, highlighting a pattern of challenging opponents early in his tenure.
With both teams eager to establish early momentum, the upcoming showdown is expected to be a barometer for the Hoosiers’ development and a test of Howard’s rapid rise, setting the tone for a compelling season ahead.