Game log · Week-by-week
2025 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 10 | W 55-10@ Maryland | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Total | — | — | — | — | — | — |
#65
Carter Smith
Carter Smith didn't allow a sack. He became the first Indiana player ever named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and PFF rates him the No. 1 returning tackle in the country. He gave up a Day 2 draft slot to run it back.
6′5″ · 313 lb · Powell, OH · Olentangy Liberty
National watchReturning to Indiana for 2026
Recruiting
4★
WR recruit
No. 275 nationally · Signed with Indiana
No college snaps yet.
His full recruiting profileThe story
Carter Smith didn't allow a sack. He became the first Indiana player ever named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, and PFF rates him the No. 1 returning tackle in the country. He gave up a Day 2 draft slot to run it back.
- Signed as a 4-star recruit to Indiana in 2021.
- Named All-America (Consensus) in 2025.
- Named Preseason All-America in 2026.
- Indiana OL Carter Smith injury update (Aug 20) Reported
Buzz vs Tape
Every angle we can check here reads about where you'd expect this season.
34.6own fans
35national conversation
The story
Smith's 2025 was as clean as it gets at left tackle: zero sacks allowed in the regular season, an 88.8 PFF grade across 372 pass-blocking snaps, and the first Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year award in Indiana history. PFF now ranks him the No. 1 returning offensive tackle in the country. A four-year starter, he passed up a projected Day 2 draft slot to take his final year. The forward stakes are a program's ceiling: Resolves 2027-01-20. that, with Smith on it, is among the most secure in the sport. The most accomplished returning tackle in college football headlines a Hoosier line built to contend.
The record
A falsifiable call from this player's outlook. Not yet gradeable.
What we said
the nation's top tackle anchors Indiana back to the Playoff
Graded as: at least 1 College Football Playoff game in 2026.
What happened
Resolves 2027-01-20.
PENDINGHis career
He was winning awards before he was old enough to be a story.
Smith is a pass-protection technician first -- the cleanest profile a tackle can have. The numbers are the argument: zero sacks allowed and an 88.8 PFF grade over nearly 400 pass-blocking snaps, the kind of season that doesn't happen by accident. He's a four-year starter with the footwork and anchor to handle Big Ten edge speed and power, and PFF's No. 1 returning-tackle ranking reflects a player without an obvious hole. The blindside is the most important real estate on an offense, and Smith makes it a non-issue -- which is exactly why a Playoff-hopeful line is built around him.
Written by our staff.
2021
- Signed with Indiana4-star out of Westlake
2022
- Signed with Indiana3-star out of Olentangy Liberty
2025
- All-America
- All-Big Tenfirst
2026
- Preseason All-AmericaFirst Team
Trophy case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
🥇
ALL-AMERICA
Named All-American (2026)
1 selectors honored him
🥈
ALL-BIG TEN · 1ST TEAM
All-Big Ten 1st team (2025)
Badges
- Honors Badge
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Indiana16-0HC: Curt Cignetti · Run-heavy
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Not enough tracked stats yet to summarize this season.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Curt Cignetti
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
A three-star recruit at offensive line for Indiana -- now a genuine All-American.
Offensive line play doesn't show up in a box score. Here's what actually tells you whether he's good.
Quality starterThree-star HS recruitAll-America (2026)All-America (2025)All-Big Ten (2025)
Indiana has produced 3 All-Conference offensive linemen and 1 All-American. 5 have gone on to the NFL Draft since 2016. Pat Coogan went on to the NFL out of this room (2026).
Selector Grid · 2026
AP—
FWAA—
AFCA—
WCFF—
SN—
SI—
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Smith is a pass-protection technician first -- the cleanest profile a tackle can have. The numbers are the argument: zero sacks allowed and an 88.8 PFF grade over nearly 400 pass-blocking snaps, the kind of season that doesn't happen by accident. He's a four-year starter with the footwork and anchor to handle Big Ten edge speed and power, and PFF's No. 1 returning-tackle ranking reflects a player without an obvious hole. The blindside is the most important real estate on an offense, and Smith makes it a non-issue -- which is exactly why a Playoff-hopeful line is built around him.
2026 Outlook
Indiana
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Offensive line · Indiana
Returning around him
- 17% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
- 8 Indiana players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +0 net (17 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Indiana · Last season: 16-0 (AP #1) · Talent rank #38 · 2026 recruiting class #29
Background
Career Notes & Records Earned his bachelor’s degree in sport marketing and management from Indiana ... Appeared in 43 career games with 41 starts ... Made 41 consecutive starts at left tackle dating back to the 2023 season ... Part of an offensive line that was named semifinalist for the Joe Moor...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology