Indiana Weather Forecast: How Cold Bloomington Could Get for USC’s Saturday Visit

Cold, dry game-day forecast

After a mild fall, a cold front moved through Indiana on Wednesday night. Saturday in Bloomington is expected to remain cold, with temperatures barely reaching the upper 40s during the day.

The Weather Channel forecast puts the high at 49 degrees and the real-feel temperature at 44. Early fog is expected to give way to some sun and clouds, with winds around 8 mph during the day.

Winds should ease in the second half. After sunset at 5:32 p.m. ET, temperatures are forecast to fall, reaching a low of 27 degrees Saturday night.

Fans face a chilly tailgate

Indiana is expected to open its tailgate lots at 9 a.m., based on previous games with a 3:30 p.m. start. Although the forecast is cold, it calls for dry conditions. Fans are advised to dress in layers and may want to consider bringing a portable fire pit to stay warm.

Indiana needs a win

Indiana dropped from No. 4 to No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings Tuesday night. A victory over No. 18 USC would help keep the Hoosiers’ playoff chances alive.

Availability and series history

Quarterback Josh Hoover, who was injured against Minnesota, was not included in Wednesday night’s initial availability report. Starting running back Turbo Richard will miss Saturday’s game. This will be the fifth meeting between Indiana and USC, and their first since 1982. It is also their first meeting as Big Ten opponents since USC joined the conference in 2024. USC leads the series 4-0.