Nick Kidwell injury: Curt Cignetti’s Indiana faces massive blow as starter OL faces season-ending setback

The Indiana Hoosiers are getting ready for the 2024 college football season, but they are going to be without a star player in seventh-year senior offensive guard Nick Kidwell.

He was the projected starting right guard for the program but is going to miss the entire season due to a knee injury. Kidwell was projected to be a star offensive lineman for the program, unfortunately, that won't be the case this season.

Nick Kidwell was a two-time All-Conference selection with the James Madison Dukes, before transferring to Indiana. This is a brutal news for the Indiana Hoosiers just a few weeks ahead of the season's commencement on August 31.

Coach Curt Cignetti is very familiar with what Nick Kidwell can provide as he was also with James Madison for the previous five years.

There are going to be a few different solutions the Hoosiers can opt for as they move around some projected starters. Center Mike Katic has played guard for a significant part of his collegiate career while right tackle Trey Wedig has played guard as well.

If not these two for Kidwell's role, they need to figure out which backup will slide into the starting lineup.

Does the Nick Kridwell injury change the outlook of the Indiana Hoosiers heading into the 2024 college football season?

The Indiana Hoosiers have struggled over the course of the last handful of college football seasons. But they are going to be able to win a lot of games with how their schedule has lined up.

Below is the Indiana Hoosiers' schedule heading into this upcoming season.

8/31: vs. Florida International Panthers
9/6: vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks
9/14: at UCLA Bruins
9/21: vs. Charlotte 49ers
9/28: vs. Maryland Terrapins
10/5: at Northwestern Wildcats
10/19: vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
10/26: vs. Washington Huskies
11/2: at Michigan State Spartans
11/9: vs. Michigan Wolverines
11/23: at Ohio State Buckeyes
11/30: vs. Purdue Boilermakers

Around the first half of the regular season schedule is not too difficult. Even with the injury to Nick Kidwell, the Hoosiers and coach Cignetti should be able to win close to double-digit games.

They have a new quarterback in senior transfer Kurtus Rourke and are hoping to be able to give him enough protection to allow him to play well.

If he is able to get time in the pocket, this Hoosiers team has the ability to surprise a lot of people in 2024.