Indiana’s Turbo Richard injury: Report reveals major setback after Northwestern

Indiana Hoosiers running back Turbo Richard is dealing with a suspected high ankle sprain from the No. 5 Hoosiers’ 29-23 win over Northwestern, and the injury leaves the defending national champions short on healthy ball carriers.

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Sources told CBS Sports senior reporter Matt Zenitz on Saturday that Richard hurt his ankle Friday night at Memorial Stadium. Indiana was already playing without backup running back Khobie Martin, who has missed all four games with a broken arm.

There is no injury timeline just yet, but high ankle sprains can keep a player out for one to six weeks for mild to moderate sprains. Recovery can sometimes be longer for severe cases that involve a torn ligament.

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How did Turbo Richard get hurt?

Richard went down in the second quarter along the Indiana sideline as Northwestern’s Jamaal Johnson pulled him to the ground with a hip-drop tackle. Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said Northwestern’s Brendan Flakes also hit Richard after he was out of bounds, but officials didn’t throw a flag.

Trainers took Richard to the medical tent and then helped him to the locker room. He kept his weight off his right foot and didn’t return.

The Boston College transfer had 68 yards on nine carries before he left, and his first carry went for 33 yards. He entered the night as Indiana’s leading rusher with 315 yards and four touchdowns through three games. That total included 149 yards in a 38-0 win over Western Kentucky.

Cignetti didn’t give a timeline after the game.

“We’ll find out,” Cignetti said, per 247Sports. “You hate to see that happen to a good player, playing really well … He’ll do everything he can to get back.”

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Lee Beebe Jr. carries Indiana

Indiana Hoosiers running back Lee Beebe Jr. (29) | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Lee Beebe Jr. took over and ran 24 times for 203 yards and a touchdown. After Northwestern cut the lead to 22-20, the fifth-year back broke a 70-yard run to the Wildcats’ 5-yard line. Quarterback Josh Hoover scored on a 1-yard run two plays later with 1:56 left.

“Beebe started breaking tackles,” Cignetti said. “Most of his carries in the second half … because Turbo’s down, Khobie’s down, right? Really proud of him.”

The win moved Indiana to 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big Ten. It also stretched the longest active winning streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision to 20 games.

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Who’s left in Indiana’s backfield?

Indiana Hoosiers running back Turbo Richard (1) | Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Martin’s broken arm has kept him out all season. So if Richard misses time, Indiana has three healthy scholarship running backs: Beebe, redshirt freshman Sean Cuono and Jayreon Campbell, a 2026 signee. Cuono and Campbell have little college experience.

That puts most of the load on Beebe. The former UAB back missed most of the 2025 season after a non-contact knee injury against Indiana State, and Friday’s game was his second 100-yard game this year.

Indiana plays its first road game of the season next at Rutgers. The school hasn’t announced a timeline for Richard’s return.

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