No. 20 Indiana football will open its season against Old Dominion University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium without freshman defensive back Byron Baldwin Jr, according to the Big Ten availability report. He was the lone Hoosier on the report.
Baldwin Jr. was the Hoosiers’ top-ranked recruit in the 2025 class, earning a four-star rating, according to 247 Sports Composite. He was the 258th-best player in the class.
In the leadup to Saturday, Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti explained his squad has some “nice pieces,” but expressed some concern in terms of depth at certain positions. However, he didn’t specify which ones.
“We’re deeper at some spots than others,” Cignetti said on Inside IU Football with Curt Cignetti on Thursday. “There’s some spots we’re gonna have to stay healthy because we don’t have the depth at every single unit that you would like.”
Cignetti’s squad stayed mostly healthy throughout its historic 2024 season, and a similar fortune this season would certainly help the Hoosiers in achieving similar success.
Senior wide receiver Tyler Morris, who transferred to Indiana from Michigan during the offseason, previously suffered a torn ACL during spring camp and will miss the 2025 season.
For now, Baldwin Jr.’s anticipated debut in the Cream and Crimson will have to wait at least another week.
Follow reporters Conor Banks (@Conorbanks06) and Dalton James (@DaltonMJames) and columnist Quinn Richards (@Quinn_richa) for updates throughout the Indiana football season.
