Curt Cignetti Defends QB Josh Hoover As No. 5 Indiana Opens Big Ten Play

Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover’s statistics — and bloody image — speak for themselves. He’s been efficient and tough through his first three games with the fifth-ranked and still unbeaten Hoosiers. He’s completed more than 72% of his passes, thrown 10 touchdown passes and no interceptions while posting the second-best passing efficiency rating in the Football Bowl Subdivision. In his debut two weeks ago, Hoover threw four touchdown passes with only three incompletions and delivered an indelible image during the Hoosiers’ 52-16 victory over North Texas: his bloodied face and chin strap, after an opponent yanked hard on his facemask. Indiana…