Indiana soccer game-by-game predictions: Will Hoosiers earn back-to-back CFP berth? – Indiana Every day Pupil

No. 20 Indiana soccer opens its 2025 season in opposition to Previous Dominion College at 2:30 p.m. Saturday on Retailers Financial institution Area at Memorial Stadium. 
The Hoosiers enter their second season beneath head coach Curt Cignetti coming off an 11-2 season, which ended with a 27-17 loss to the College of Notre Dame within the Faculty Soccer Playoff First Spherical. 
Whereas notable gamers corresponding to quarterback Kurtis Rourke, middle Mike Katic and linebacker Jailin Walker exhausted their eligibility after final season, Cignetti and his employees introduced in a plethora of transfers — 12 offensive gamers, eight defensive and 4 particular teamers — to retool the roster in hopes of returning to the CFP. 
The Hoosiers’ schedule is headlined by a pair of marquee highway contests in opposition to present prime 10 opponents, and a visit to Kinnick Stadium to face Iowa. 
The Indiana Every day Pupil gathered its two reporters’ and columnist’s predictions for all 12 regular-season matchups. 
August 30 vs. Previous Dominion College 
James’ prediction: Win 
Banks’ prediction: Win 
Richards’ prediction: Win 
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Colton Joseph is ready to steer an Previous Dominion offense that ranked 14th within the nation with 209.8 dashing yards per sport final season. Indiana proved its dominance in opposition to the run in 2024 and can discover success in opposition to the Monarchs’ poor protection to open the season.  
September 6 vs. Kennesaw State College 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Coming off a 2-10 season, Kennesaw State opens its season in opposition to Wake Forest College on Friday. Indiana hasn’t performed Kennesaw State earlier than, however it’ll dominate and enhance to 2-0. 
September 12 vs. Indiana State College 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Not solely are the Sycamores an FCS staff, in addition they aren’t an excellent one. Indiana State hasn’t had a successful season since 2018 and is 0-6 all-time in opposition to the Hoosiers — depending on who you ask.  
September 20 vs. Illinois 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Loss 
After a weak nonconference slate, the Hoosiers get thrown into the deep finish with their convention opener in opposition to the Preventing Illini. A sold-out Memorial Stadium could be the sting Indiana must scrape out a hard-fought win, however a extreme step up in competitors may simply show too drastic for Cignetti’s squad. 
September 27 at Iowa 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Loss 
Indiana’s first away take a look at of the season will probably be performed at an already sold-out Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes’ house crowd has reached max capability for 21 straight video games relationship again to 2022. Cignetti was 0-2 in opposition to ranked groups on the highway final season and — though Iowa at present sits outdoors the preliminary Related Press Prime 25 — it wouldn’t be a shock for the Hawkeyes to sneak into the rankings when week 5 rolls round. 
October 11 at Oregon 
James: Loss 
Banks: Loss 
Richards: Loss 
Coming off its first idle week of the season, Indiana will tackle preseason No. 7 Oregon at Autzen Stadium. With former Geese quarterback Dillon Gabriel departing for the NFL after 2024, redshirt sophomore Dante Moore has taken the reins of the offense. Assuming Moore shows appreciable growth after a season behind Gabriel, he’ll lead Oregon to victory. 
October 18 vs. Michigan State 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Hampered by accidents final season, a wholesome Michigan State protection ought to make appreciable strides in 2025. The Spartans face inconsistencies at quarterback and uncertainty surrounding their working sport after shedding working backs Nathan Carter and Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams within the offseason — its prime two rushers from the 2024 season. These elements will make life tough in opposition to the Hoosiers.  
October 25 vs. UCLA 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava made headlines within the spring, transferring from the College of Tennessee to UCLA. Iamaleava will now play beneath offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri — the lone assistant to go away Indiana after 2024. Even with Iamaleava turning into the Bruins’ sign caller, the Hoosiers will put collectively an identical efficiency to their 31-point victory in 2024 en route to a different win this season. 
November 1 at Maryland 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
The Terrapins took a step again in 2024, shedding seven of their remaining eight video games en path to a 4-8 file. This 12 months, Maryland appears to have taken a step ahead due to a slew of roster turnover. Regardless, the expertise disparity ought to be sufficient for Indiana to go away Faculty Park with a win.  
November 8 at Penn State 
James: Loss 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Loss 
The Nittany Lions return a lot of their 2024 core that almost led them to the Nationwide Championship. Enjoying in Glad Valley and in opposition to the very best working again tandem within the nation, Indiana must dominate the road of scrimmage and management the passing sport to have a shot.  
November 15 vs. Wisconsin 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Wisconsin faces a troublesome schedule this season together with matchups in opposition to six groups within the Related Press’ preseason ballot — one that might put on the Badgers out because the season progresses.  With Indiana set to be a type of ranked matchups late within the season, followers of the Cream and Crimson pack the rock for an Indiana victory.   
November 28 at Purdue 
James: Win 
Banks: Win 
Richards: Win 
Purdue enters 2025 beneath new management in head coach Barry Odom. Whereas one other 66-0 victory over the Boilermakers appears unlikely to occur in West Lafayette, Indiana will nonetheless dominate Purdue on Black Friday. 
Recreation to observe 
JAMES: Indiana’s two losses in 2024 got here to Ohio State and Notre Dame — the 2 faculties that performed for the nationwide championship. The subsequent step for the Hoosiers is competing and beating prime applications corresponding to No. 2 Penn State. The 2 are set to face off Nov. 8 at Beaver Stadium in College Park, Pennsylvania. It’ll function an opportunity for Indiana to show they’re not an “rising superpower,” as Cignetti described it final season, and as a substitute solidify its arrival close to the highest of the school soccer panorama. 
BANKS: After three consecutive weak non-conference video games, I’m intrigued at how Indiana will come ready to face Illinois, its first convention opponent in 2025. The Preventing Illini held a 10-3 file in 2024 and are anticipated to step ahead this season after being ranked No. 12 within the Related Press’ preseason ballot. Illinois is likely one of the most skilled groups within the nation, with 16 starters getting back from final 12 months.  
For Indiana, this can be a must-win sport and a tone-setter for the remainder of convention play. A victory in opposition to Illinois would relieve among the stress going into robust convention matchups corresponding to Oregon and Penn State, whereas drastically enhancing their possibilities at a second consecutive Faculty Soccer Playoff look.  
RICHARDS: Indiana confronted two groups with plus .500 data on the highway final season, Ohio State and Notre Dame — its solely two losses. Iowa will probably be above that mark in 2025 and had been unbeaten within the confines of Kinnick Stadium one 12 months in the past. Whereas the Hawkeyes aren’t the Hoosiers’ hardest matchup on paper, they’ll function a benchmark for his or her efficiency in different hostile environments in ensuing video games.  
Passing an early highway take a look at from a constant Iowa program proves Indiana may overcome comparable atmospheres in opposition to Oregon and Penn State. With a loss, the Hoosiers’ hopes of successful these pivotal matchups would appear determined at finest. 
File prediction 
JAMES: Coming off an 11-1 common season in 2024, I see the Hoosiers ending at 10-2 in 2025. Beating Penn State on the highway — one thing Indiana has by no means achieved — is a tall activity, and one I don’t assume will occur this season.  
I feel the Hoosiers additionally fall on the highway to Oregon on Oct. 11; nevertheless, I feel that matchup comes all the way down to Dante Moore and whether or not he’s made marked enchancment since his true freshman season at UCLA in 2023, so I may see a world during which the Hoosiers sneak out of Autzen Stadium with a victory. Ultimately, I feel with two losses, a second consecutive CFP look wouldn’t come to fruition. 
BANKS: 11-1 – Whereas this will likely appear bold, Indiana returns a lot of final 12 months’s roster that made the Faculty Soccer Playoff with the identical file. I count on the offense to be higher suited in opposition to the highest defenses the Hoosiers will face this season with the acquisition of quarterback Fernando Mendoza along with offensive line upgrades. The Hoosiers’ one lack of the season comes at Oregon. Nevertheless, Indiana bounces again in opposition to one other ranked opponent and leaves Glad Valley with a win. Penn State boasts among the best working again duos within the nation, but when the Hoosiers can replicate their success in opposition to the run from final season, I feel they’ve an excellent likelihood at a second consecutive Faculty Soccer Playoff look.  
RICHARDS: 8-4 – I feel the Hoosiers’ weak nonconference schedule hurts them in the long term. Illinois makes use of per week two matchup in opposition to Duke College in Durham to arrange for a ruckus Large Ten opener in opposition to Indiana, in the end giving the Hoosiers a loss in week 4. The next week, Kinnick Stadium’s stage is just too massive for the Cream and Crimson who fall to 0-2 in convention play. I’m in accordance with Dalton that the expertise of Oregon and Penn State is an excessive amount of for Indiana, giving them an 8-4 (5-4 Large Ten) file. 
Comply with reporters Conor Banks and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) for updates all through the Indiana soccer season

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