The Phil Steele 2026 preview magazine – an annual publication previewing the upcoming college football season – is available now in a digital format and will be on newsstands early next month.
On Monday, we shared notes from the Lindy’s Sports preview magazine, which picked IU football No. 5 nationally and third in the Big Ten.
And on Tuesday, we shared notes from the Athlon Sports preview magazine, which picked IU football No. 5 nationally and second in the Big Ten.
Here are some notes on Indiana and the Big Ten at large from the Phil Steele preview magazine:
(You can purchase the digital version here.)
• Carter Smith is a preseason first-team preseason All-American, as is Isaiah Jones. Nick Marsh is a second-team preseason All-American along with Tyrique Tucker and Rolijah Hardy. Charlie Becker was selected as a third-team preseason All-American along with Amare Ferrell. Jamari Sharpe was a fourth-team preseason All-American selection. In total, the Hoosiers have eight players on Steele’s four preseason All-American teams.
• In Steele’s unit rankings, Indiana ranks No. 12 at quarterback, No. 44 at running back, No. 11 at wide receiver, No. 3 on the offensive line, No. 10 on the defensive line, No. 11 at linebacker, No. 11 at defensive back and No. 10 on special teams.
• Steele ranks Indiana’s 2026 schedule as the 24th most difficult nationally and ranks the Big Ten and SEC in a tie for the top conference nationally.
• Indiana is the No. 6 nationally in the preseason power poll, according to Steele. Rankings for other Big Ten programs: Oregon (No. 2), Ohio State (No. 4), USC (No. 10), Michigan (No. 14), Washington (No. 15), Penn State (No. 19), Iowa (No. 20), Wisconsin (No. 27), UCLA (No. 30), Nebraska (No. 32), Minnesota (No. 35), Illinois (No. 41), Maryland (No. 42), Rutgers (No. 46), Northwestern (No. 49), Michigan State (No. 63) and Purdue (No. 65).
• Steele also has a preseason top 40, which is an indicator of where he believes each team will finish. Indiana is No. 5 in the top 40. The other Big Ten teams in the top 40 include Ohio State (No. 3), Oregon (No. 6), USC (No. 11), Michigan (No. 15), Penn State (No. 19), Washington (No. 25) and Iowa (No. 26).
• Steele has a three-way tie atop the Big Ten in his 2026 forecast with Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon. The rest of the conference finish: USC, Michigan, Penn State, Washington, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin, Northwestern, UCLA, Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State and Purdue.
• On Steele’s preseason All-Big Ten teams from IU: Becker and Smith on the first team offense and Tucker, Hardy, Jones and Ferrell on the first team defense and Nico Radicic on the first team for special teams. On the third team: Marsh on offense, Mario Landino on defense and Drew Clausen on special teams. On the fourth team: Turbo Richard on offense and Chiddi Obiazor and Sharpe on defense.
• Projected starters:
Offense: Josh Hoover (QB), Turbo Richard (RB), Tyler Morris (WR), Charlie Becker (WR), Nick Marsh (WR), Brock Schott (TE), Drew Evans (C), Bray Lynch (RG), Joe Brunner (LG), Adeamola Ajani (RT), Carter Smith (LT), Nico Radicic (K).
Defense: Chiddi Obiazor (DE), Tyrique Tucker (NG), Mario Landino (DR), Tobi Osunsanmi (Stud), Rolijah Hardy (WLB), Isaiah Jones (MLB), Byron Baldwin (NB), AJ Harris (CB), Jamari Sharpe (CB), Amare Ferrell (BS), Preston Zachman (FS), Billy Gowers (P).
The VIP’s EXCLUSIVE week of access to the digital is done. Now you can purchase the digital and view it today. A perk of ordering the magazine at
is that you get the hard copy but also the digital copy is added FREE.
(VIP still best deal). This is… pic.twitter.com/LBkCm7cDjb— Phil Steele (@philsteele042) June 16, 2026
(Photo credit: IU Athletics)
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