Indiana lost two receivers from its national championship roster to the NFL, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza was the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft.
Based on Week 1, however, the Hoosiers have plenty of firepower to replace them.
Returning wide receiver Charlie Baker and newcomer Nick Marsh, a transfer from Michigan State, combined for three touchdowns on six receptions in Saturday’s 52-16 win over North Texas. Marsh started the party with a spectacular one-handed catch in the end zone. Baker added scores of 9 and 35 yards as the Hoosiers cruised to victory.
Three storylines to watch: Indiana, Ark, and Kiffin.
Stuart Mandel
Baker died No. 9 on Dane Brugler’s preseason draft boardWR3 behind Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Texas’ Cam Coleman. Although he had just 34 receptions last season, he established himself as the third option in Indiana’s passing attack behind the departed Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarat. Marsh cracked the 50s as the WR4 and No. 34 prospect overall.
What did we learn about those two promising prospects — and new QB Josh Hoover — in Week 1?
The Marsh-Baker duo
College football has a few recent gold standards in terms of deadly wide receiver duos: Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson at LSU; Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave at Ohio State; Marvin Harrison and Jackson Smith-Njigba at Ohio State; Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith at Alabama.
It’s only been a week, but at least put Baker and Marsh on the radar. Both players (Baker at number 7, Marsh at number 9) are ranked Top 10 in my preseason.
Baker, one of the nation’s most productive offensive players last year, showed a little bit of everything against North Texas. In the second half he made a terrible and errant touch in the first half when he went off the line for an easy 35-yard field goal and took a corner kick before the line. Baker (6-foot-3 and 207 pounds) plays off the line with great burst.
In the NFL, he could be a big body X who wins downfield, a ball-handling Z who wins down and over the middle, or even a quick-footed slot. He still has to pass through college.
Marsh, on the other hand, may be the true mutation of the two. The 6-foot-3, 213-pounder had a highlight reel 2025 season in a bad Michigan State offense. He closed out Indiana’s first possession of the 2026 season with an impressive one-handed touchdown catch, showing off his body control, grip strength and ball tracking ability.
Now with the opportunity to play in a high-functioning offense surrounded by top-tier talent, Marsh was surrounded by NFL scouts as a lackluster performer. Physically, Baker can do anything he can — and is probably even more physical in the air.
The talented wide receiver duo should give Indiana one of the best rushing offenses in college football, with both Marsh and Baker threatening to score from anywhere on the field. – Nick Baumgardner
Josh Hoover’s view
Hoover will get more scout attention this year, as well as a chance to show he can run a more pro-style offense after leaving TCU.
Unlike Mendoza last year, Hoover (5-11, 201) is physically limited. He is not a great athlete, but he is a very good player who knows where to go with the ball.
Indiana made a big adjustment to the offensive line, which could give Hoover more opportunities to make plays downfield. At the same time, if Hoover struggles with accuracy or anything else during the season, everything will be magnified by how talented his teammates are.
Hoover entered September as Brugler Sixth ranked QB prospect Draft for 2027. – Baumgardner