Indiana's Stephen Daley Injury Puts Playoff Hopes in Jeopardy

Indiana defensive end Stephen Daley is facing a serious leg injury that puts the team's playoff hopes in jeopardy. After the Big Ten Championship game on December 6, 2025, Daley left the postgame celebration in an air cast.

He sustained the injury while attempting to jump and high-five fans seated on the railing around the field at Lucas Oil Stadium. Daley's performance this season has been outstanding, with 5.5 sacks and a league-leading 19 tackles for loss.

Head coach Curt Cignetti revealed he was unaware of the injury until over 40 minutes after the game due to media responsibilities. Cignetti expressed disbelief upon learning of the injury, stating that during his press conference, he initially said no players were hurt in the game.

Indiana, currently ranked No. 1 with a record of 13-0, is now awaiting the winner of the December 19 first-round matchup between Oklahoma and Alabama, with uncertainty surrounding Daley's availability for the College Football Playoff.