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All-American cornerback D’Angelo Ponds expected to return for top-10 clash at Oregon

Browning Headshotby: Zach Browning10/06/25ZachBrowning17
D'Angelo Ponds Indiana

Indiana football expects to have one of its defensive anchors back just in time for its toughest test of the season.

All-American cornerback D’Angelo Ponds is on track to return from injury and play when No. 7 Indiana travels to face No. 3 Oregon on Saturday, head coach Curt Cignetti said Monday.

“I expect Ponds to be fine and play,” Cignetti said Monday.

Ponds missed Indiana’s 20-15 win at Iowa on Sept. 26 with an undisclosed injury after being ruled out late in the week. Without him, the Hoosiers leaned more heavily on zone coverage, with redshirt junior and Cal transfer Ryland Gandy filling in at corner.

“We found out late in the week he wouldn’t be available for the Iowa game,” Cignetti said. “So coach [Bryant] Haines took out the eraser and ink pen and the game plan changed a little bit, played a little bit more zone than he planned on playing going into the game, and I thought we did well.”

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Through four games, Ponds has 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a blocked punt he returned for a touchdown in Indiana’s 63-10 rout of Illinois. The Miami native was named second-team All-America by six outlets in 2024 and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season.

The Hoosiers were idle this past weekend, giving Ponds and several other key players extra time to recover before the marquee matchup.

Kickoff between Indiana (5-0) and Oregon (5-0) is set for 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Autzen Stadium in Eugene. The game will air on CBS, with ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasting live from the Oregon campus.

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