Josh Hoover Heisman chatter is picking up after Indiana’s fifth-year quarterback guided the Hoosiers to a 21-game winning streak and a crisp start to the season, prompting former Heisman winner Matt Leinart to stump for his candidacy.
“No one’s talked about Josh Hoover,” Leinart said Saturday on Big Noon Kickoff, noting the senior’s efficient play and mistake-free resume. He compared Hoover’s trajectory to Fernando Mendoza’s late-season rise for Indiana last year, adding that Hoover holds better numbers, has avoided turnovers and has the talent to contend. “He’s got a chance with this schedule, starting today against Nebraska and then Ohio State next week in the Big Ten, to make a run at this thing.”
Josh Hoover Heisman case built on elite efficiency
Through Indiana’s first five games, Hoover has thrown for 1,101 yards and 15 touchdowns with no interceptions. He owns a 203.7 passer rating and a 71.0% completion mark, leading the Big Ten in passing touchdowns and passer rating.
Indiana’s offense around him has been balanced and potent. The Hoosiers rank second in the Big Ten in rushing at 252.6 yards per game, third in total offense at 489.6 yards and third in scoring at 44.2 points per game. They are 11th in passing at 237.0 yards per game.
Hoover arrived in Bloomington after four seasons at TCU, where he started for three years. From 2023 to 2025, he averaged 3,209.0 passing yards, 23.7 passing touchdowns and 11.0 interceptions per season, with a 147.8 passer rating and a 65.1% completion rate.
Following the Mendoza blueprint
Hoover is now stepping into the standard set by Mendoza, who steered Indiana to its first national championship with a 16-0 campaign in 2025. That season, Mendoza threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with six interceptions, posted a 182.9 passer rating and completed 72.0% of his passes.
He added 276 rushing yards and seven scores, won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and was taken first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. Indiana’s title run and Mendoza’s rise mirrored other recent shifts across the Power Four landscape.
Statement games ahead
With unbeaten Nebraska and Ohio State next on the slate, Hoover has a prime chance to elevate the Josh Hoover Heisman push. “I think he’s exceeded expectations so far,” Leinart said, while cautioning that the schedule tightens now and into the second half. “I think it’s time to start putting some respect on Josh Hoover’s name. He’s one of the best players in the country.”
