Indiana football 2026 position preview: Offensive line

Indiana football is set to begin its 2026 season, and the team's offensive line is the focus of this preview. The starting left tackle is Carter Smith, a senior who has been with the program since 2022. Smith was sidelined with shoulder surgery during the 2025 season, but he is now back and ready to play. Alongside Smith, Drew Evans, a senior walk-on from Wisconsin, starts at left guard.

Evans has been a reliable starter for the Hoosiers since his arrival in 2024. Pat Coogan, a former Notre Dame transfer, starts at center, having taken over that role from former Notre Dame transfer Pat Coogan in 2025. Coogan was instrumental in Indiana’s postseason run, earning Rose Bowl MVP honors against Alabama. Moving to right guard, Adedamola Ajani, a junior, started the job in 2025 after Evans missed time with injury.

Ajani is a promising interior lineman, but he will need to mature and adjust to playing a full-time starting role. Right tackle, Joe Brunner, is the team's newest addition, having joined Indiana this offseason. Brunner, a senior, made the jump from left guard in 2025 to right tackle, where his size and experience should prove valuable.

Brunner stands 6'7" and weighs 313 lbs, making him a formidable force at the position. The depth along Indiana's offensive line will be crucial for the team's success in 2026. The coaching staff has highlighted Austin Leibfried, Matt Marek, Baylor Wilkin, and Sam Simpson as key depth options who could see significant playing time.

With a strong starting unit and a solid depth chart, Indiana is poised to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season.