Head coach Curt Cignetti, known for his “Google me” statement, is coming off a historic 11-win season in his first year with the Hoosiers. He always recognized the untapped potential of the school, and he had faith in his players. It’s not just about the talent on the field and the success in the transfer portal; it’s also about his impressive coaching staff. One standout member is Derek Owings, the strength & conditioning coach for the Hoosiers. Every time you marvel at Kurtis Rourke’s impressive touchdown plays, you should thank Owings for his work. As we head into 2025, the key architect behind the rugged physicality and resilience of the Hoosiers, Derek, is facing a significant career opportunity, as USC and Lincoln Riley are increasingly interested in him.

Owings worked alongside the Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti at James Madison, where he was the director of strength & conditioning for football from 2020 to 2023 before following Cignetti to Bloomington. The duo has marked a brilliant success over 2024, maintaining a flurry of players’ stupendous athleticism. But guess what, Lincoln Riley’s eagle eyes didn’t unsee the progress Derek has made in his spot. So, how about a swoop?

As per a recent CBS report, USC is pursuing Owings to join the Trojans. The move is just a reflection of their long-standing trend of stockpiling some of the top talent in college football out west. If they can successfully land Derek, his talent, paired with Chad Bowden’s brain, can foster some magic in the locker room. But for now, everything seems to be in the smokescreen, beseeching the Hoosiers fans to chill.

Losing Owings would certainly dish a blow to Cignetti, who has managed to keep the majority of his staff safe from outside influence and poaching. Derek has been a pivot to last year’s run to the playoffs, arguably the best story in college football that the Hoosiers have ever seen.

Owings stepped into the program with a big vision in his eyes. “We’re trying to make the fastest, most violent team in America”: the motto remains the same since day 1. He not only made a quote out of it but also lived up to it to the best of his ability. Derek carefully examines every position and builds a customized plan to spearhead the growth. Whether it was speed, strength, or skill, Derek had been wide awake to immediately address the need. He is looking to chisel the best out of every single player on the roster. It’s uncertain whether we get to see the same enthusiasm on the spot again if Derek chooses to leave.

But the question that strikes us the most is why the Trojans all of a sudden had to scout for a new S&C coach for their roster.

Lincoln Riley chose to move on from Bennie Wylie for an unspecified reason

A few days back, several reports suggested that Riley is to cut ties with veteran strength coach Bennie Wylie, who had served at Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas before bringing his gifts to USC. After a fulfilling three seasons, the director of athletic performance pulled the rug right after the Trojans wrapped up their spring practices.

Do you smell a controversy? Well, for your disappointment, his departure is reportedly a clean exit without any internal pressure or heat. It’s said to be a strictly football decision. Wylie fostered a huge fan base on the roster. Everybody tends to like him and gel well with him for the cordial personality he oozes. But somehow, some sources said that Riley had a feeling that USC could do better without him. The reason behind his thoughts, however, remains under the radar.

“We are grateful for the many contributions Coach Wylie has made to our program through the last three seasons,” Riley said in a statement. “He has been an outstanding role model to our young men. This is a difficult decision, but we are committed to positioning our football program to compete for national championships as we continue to move forward into the 2025 season and beyond.” We need to see if Derek will fill in his shoes or stay firm to his Indiana contract for the running year. In either case, Derek brings magic to the table, no matter where he goes.