Takeaways from the first half of Indiana football's fall camp

As Indiana football crests the midway point of fall camp, there's something different in the air in Bloomington — and it's not just the freshly laid turf inside Memorial Stadium. It's the expectation. With four of eight open practices in the books and less than a month remaining before the 2025 season kicks off, the Hoosiers have started to reveal who’s ready to make waves. While stars like Fernando Mendoza, Elijah Sarratt and D’Angelo Ponds have lived up to their billing, it’s the unexpected risers and position battles that have added intrigue to camp's early narrative. Here’s a look at the storylines beginning to take shape, with a focus on the players who are earning attention — and potentially, playing time — this fall.