The Indiana Hoosiers are entering the 2024 season under new head coach Curt Cignetti, who aims to turn around a team that finished 3-9 last season. Cignetti, who brings experience from a successful tenure at James Madison, has retooled the roster significantly with several key transfers. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke, a standout from Ohio, leads the offense with an impressive track record of over 7,600 passing yards and 50 touchdowns in his career. The Hoosiers’ defense also features newcomers like Jacob Mangum-Farrar and Mikail Kamara, who are expected to strengthen a unit that struggled last season.

FIU, on the other hand, is hoping to improve from a 4-8 record in 2023. The Panthers’ offense is led by quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who showed promise as a freshman but will need to improve his consistency after a season with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. FIU’s running game could be a bright spot, featuring transfers like Shomari Lawrence and returning players like Lexington Joseph. Defensively, the Panthers have returning talent such as Reggie Peterson, who led the team with 104 tackles last season. However, FIU’s defense will need to make significant strides, particularly against a stronger Indiana offense.