BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football ruled out starting right guard Joe Brunner for Saturday’s game against USC.
The offensive lineman’s name popped up on the availability report that the Big Ten released on Thursday night.
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Brunner’s injury leaves the No. 5 Hoosiers (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten) without one of its highest-rated and experienced starters on the offensive line with No. 14 USC (7-2, 4-2) coming to town. The Wisconsin transfer hasn’t missed a game since landing the starting job for the Badgers at the start of the 2024 season.
Indiana relied on the same starting combination up front through the first nine games, and Brunner entered the off week tied for the lead on offense with 542 snaps.
This is familiar territory for a staff that’s dealt with late-season injuries on the offensive line in 2024 and 2025. The difference this year is that they don’t have a veteran on the bench ready to step in for Brunner.
Third-year offensive lineman Austin Leibfried would be IU’s most experienced option. He’s shown off his versatility through his career by taking snaps at all three interior spots and getting work this season as an extra lineman in Indiana’s jumbo package.
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Matt Marek and Sam Simpson are other possibilities — they closed out wins over Howard and Western Kentucky at guard — and Baylor Wilkin is another potential name to watch. Wilkin has played guard in the past, but Indiana could also opt to keep him at right tackle and move Adedamola Ajani back inside.
The only other change to Indiana’s availability report was defensive back A.J. Harris getting upgraded to probable. Indiana’s leading rusher Turbo Richard and defensive end Kellan Wyatt were already ruled out and linebacker Rolijah Hardy remained listed as questionable.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: What’s next for Indiana vs USC with offensive lineman out. How roster changes
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
