Indiana football looks ready to unleash running back Turbo Richard following his ankle injury. But fellow backfield mate Khobie Martin is facing a different path before the Rutgers clash.

ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel shared an update there before the Big Ten Conference showdown.

“Indiana will be without running back Khobie Martin, RB Lee Beebe Jr. is questionable and Turbo Richard is probable,” Thamel posted on the social media website X, formerly Twitter.

So IU coach Curt Cignetti looks like he'll be down two running backs. And his Hoosiers have turned into a physical, downhill team that beats foes up at the line of scrimmage and allows their backfield to gash everything else.

Article Continues Below

But Indiana became tested last Friday against an upset-minded Northwestern team. The Wildcats came close to stunning the defending national champions but IU escaped 29-23.

Beebe handled the bulk of the handoffs in that contest. He handled 24 carries for 203 yards and averaged 8.5 yards per carry, scoring one touchdown in the game. Yet his health could alter Cignetti's committee approach.

Still, Richard hands IU a major boost against another team that thrives on the ground game. Richard came over as a prized transfer via Boston College during the offseason. He handled nine carries for 68 yards before he went down with his injury.

Rutgers, meanwhile, applied its own scare to a nationally-ranked Big Ten foe during the 2026 season. The Scarlet Knights engaged in a shootout with No. 18 USC before falling 42-35 to the Trojans. Rutgers is 1-3 overall but fresh off trouncing non-Big Ten foe Howard 58-7 last Saturday.