Indiana needed the right successor. Josh Hoover wanted the biggest challenge

BLOOMINGTON, IN – Indiana football quarterback Josh Hoover will make his much-anticipated Hoosiers debut against North Texas in much different circumstances than he ever imagined.

Hoover spent six months committed to play for IU back in 2021 at a time when sustained success for the team proved elusive.

On Saturday, Hoover will step under center for a program transformed, fresh off 16-0 season that brought the College Football Playoff national championship trophy to Bloomington. Hoover made strides of his own as a multi-year starter for TCU, going from an under-recruited 3-star prospect to one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the portal.

With Indiana coach Curt Cignetti valuing production over potential, Hoover became his top target to replace Fernando Mendoza. The reunion came together in a hurried courtship right after the Hoosiers returned home from beating Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Spurning interest from other programs looking to set up visits, Hoover committed to IU fully aware of the expectations that came with the decision. In one season, Mendoza became the most celebrated student-athlete in school history.

Hoover knew he needed to be "all in," as his father Alex told The Herald-Times — part of the USA TODAY Network.

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/