Stephen Daley returns to Indiana football for 2026 season
ESPN • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 4, 2026, 8:59 PM
Last updated Aug 4, 2026
Indiana football announced that defensive end Stephen Daley is returning for the 2026 season. This comes after a Colorado court ruling granted athletes from the 2022 high school class an additional year of eligibility. Daley, who missed the postseason due to a serious knee injury, will join a competitive defensive end group with recent portal additions. The ruling has drawn an appeal from the NCAA but could provide Daley ample time to recover and regain his form as he looks to contribute to Indiana's defense.
- •Daley played four seasons without redshirting before this ruling.
- •He finished last season with 19 tackles for loss, ranking third nationally.
- •Daley suffered a significant knee injury following a game against Ohio State.
- •Indiana has bolstered its defense with three new edge rushers from the portal.
- •The NCAA is appealing the court's ruling on additional eligibility.
- 10:28 PMESPN — Sources: Indiana DL Daley returning for 5th year
- 9:11 PMYahoo Sports — Indiana star defender returning for 2026 after national championship
- 8:59 PMYahoo Sports — Indiana football's Stephen Daley returning for 2026 season
"The Indiana Hoosiers are getting some late breaking news ahead of the 2026 season, with star defensive lineman Stephen Daley announcing his return.
"Indiana star defensive lineman Stephen Daley will return to the Hoosiers for his fifth year, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
"Indiana football is bringing back defensive end Stephen Daley. Here's what we know:
Sources
External links- ESPNAug 4, 2026, 10:28 PMSources: Indiana DL Daley returning for 5th year
Indiana star defensive lineman Stephen Daley will return to the Hoosiers for his fifth year, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.
- Yahoo SportsAug 4, 2026, 9:11 PMIndiana star defender returning for 2026 after national championship
The Indiana Hoosiers are getting some late breaking news ahead of the 2026 season, with star defensive lineman Stephen Daley announcing his return.
- Yahoo SportsAug 4, 2026, 8:59 PMIndiana football's Stephen Daley returning for 2026 season
Indiana football is bringing back defensive end Stephen Daley. Here's what we know:
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