Cignetti backs Hoover after turnover dig by Dykes

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti is backing quarterback Josh Hoover after TCU coach Sonny Dykes took a swipe at Hoover's turnover history.

In a new report published Thursday, Cignetti defended Hoover and said the quarterback has a strong body of work in wins, passing yards and touchdowns. Cignetti also suggested Indiana's defense and run game would put Hoover in a better position than he had at TCU.

The exchange adds a public layer to Hoover's move from TCU to Indiana and turns a transfer decision into a coaching back-and-forth. Dykes had earlier said Hoover started 31 games at TCU and turned the ball over 42 times in those starts.

ESPN reported that Hoover's TCU numbers include 9,629 passing yards, 71 passing touchdowns, 33 interceptions, nine lost fumbles and 14 total fumbles. TCU's official roster bio also notes Hoover set the school's single-season passing record with 3,949 yards.

Indiana's official roster lists Hoover on its 2026 spring football roster as a quarterback transferred from TCU. The latest comments do not change his status, but they do add sharper public context around how Indiana views its newest quarterback.

For now, the immediate news is the exchange itself: Dykes criticized Hoover's turnovers, and Cignetti responded by making the case that Hoover is a better fit in Bloomington.