On December 5th, 2021, Michael Penix Jr. entered the transfer portal. Indiana has been lost in the dark ever since.
Another No. 9, Connor Bazelak, quickly arrived from Mizzou as his presumptive replacement. One game-winning drive and several frustrating three-and-outs later, he too was gone, replaced by a revolving door of Jack Tuttle, Brendan Sorsby and eventually Dexter Williams II.
Quarterback stability is a gift for a college football program, allowing an offense to truly settle in and get into a rhythm. Hoosier fans had to watch about four Penix replacements while the man himself mounted a Heisman campaign with old friend Kalen DeBoer out west.