MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after the College Football Playoff National Championship between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Miami Hurricanes against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)
2025 was a memorable season in Bloomington, Indiana, as the Indiana Hoosiers won their first National Championship – they beat the Miami Hurricanes 27-21.
The Hoosiers achieved other firsts as well. Indiana defeated a top-five team (the Oregon Ducks) on the road for the first time, won in State College, Pennsylvania, had their highest rankings ever in each poll (Number 1) and made their inaugural appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game. Their 17-14 victory over Ohio State was Indiana’s first Big Ten title since 1967 and first outright conference win since 1945.
Indiana earned the top seed in last season’s College Football Playoff and began its run in the Rose Bowl, where it defeated the University of Alabama 38-3. The Hoosiers would defeat Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl to clinch a berth in the National Championship. Indiana concluded the season with a 16-0 record, becoming the first team since the 1894 Yale Bulldogs to do so.
As a result of the historical campaign, head coach Curt Cignetti signed an eight-year, $13.2 million contract extension. Coordinators Mike Shanahan and Bryant Haines were renewed for three years.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Fernando Mendoza won the Heisman last season after posting a 72.0 completion percentage and throwing for 3,535 passing yards; he also threw 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. Mendoza was taken first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Including Mendoza, Indiana set a program record for the most players selected in the NFL Draft with eight. Other notable names drafted were Omar Cooper Jr. (NY Jets), Elijah Saratt (Baltimore Ravens) and Kaelon Black (San Francisco 49ers). Running back Roman Hemby signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent.
Hemby led the Hoosiers in rushing yards last season with 1,120, while Cooper Jr. was the team’s best receiver statistically, catching 69 passes for 937 yards and 14 touchdowns. Saratt led the Hoosiers with 15 touchdowns. Safety Louis Moore led the team with six interceptions, while Rolijah Hardy led the team in total tackles and sacks with eight.
Despite key pieces from the National Championship team departing, Indiana secured the No. 1 transfer portal class for 2026. TCU quarterback Josh Hoover will attempt to fill in the void left by Mendoza. Hoover had a respectable 2025 campaign; he threw for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on a 65.9 completion percentage. Hoover is also TCU’s third-best quarterback in all-time passing yards.
Michigan State’s Nick Marsh, Tulane receiver Shazz Preston, Kansas State’s Tobi Osunsanmi and Wisconsin offensive lineman Joe Brunner are among the other names who transferred in.
Alberto Mendoza transferred to Georgia Tech to establish his own identity, free from his older brother’s shadow. Mendoza is projected to start since Haynes King graduated and Aaron Philo transferred to the University of Florida.
2026 has a favorable slate for Indiana; however, they will face some late-season challenges. In October, Indiana will host Ohio State and then travel to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to face the Wolverines the following week. USC and Washington could be “trap games” depending on how those teams show up this season.
The Hoosiers come into 2026 with a reloaded roster and ready to make noise. Many analysts predict a 10-2 finish with losses to Ohio State and Washington. Indiana is on everybody’s radar because they are fresh off a magical 2025 and have players at each position that could help them for a potential run in the playoffs. Expect them to be in the top-12 if Hoover can keep turnovers in check and play at a high level.
FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Hoosiers at +800 to repeat as national champions and +260 to win the Big Ten.
Indiana Hoosiers 2026-2027 Schedule & Tickets:
| Sep 5, 2026 | vs North Texas | 12:00 pm | FOX | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $82.80 |
| Sep 12, 2026 | vs Howard | 12:00 pm | BTN | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $55.10 |
| Sep 19, 2026 | vs W. Kentucky | 4:00 pm | PEAC | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $100.80 |
| Sep 25, 2026 | vs Northwestern | 8:00 pm | FOX | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $120.00 |
| Oct 3, 2026 | @ Rutgers | 8:00 pm | — | SHI Stadium | Tickets Starting at $70.62 |
| Oct 10, 2026 | @ Nebraska | TBA | — | Tom Osborne Field at Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $109.14 |
| Oct 17, 2026 | vs Ohio State | TBA | — | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $394.19 |
| Oct 24, 2026 | @ Michigan | TBA | — | Michigan Stadium | Tickets Starting at $179.63 |
| Oct 31, 2026 | vs Minnesota | TBA | — | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $70.80 |
| Nov 14, 2026 | vs USC | TBA | — | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $123.60 |
| Nov 21, 2026 | @ Washington | TBA | — | Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium | Tickets Starting at $87.13 |
| Nov 28, 2026 | vs Purdue | TBA | — | Memorial Stadium | Tickets Starting at $93.60 |
Stan Kroenke is buying the Los Angeles Angels after agreeing to a $4 billion deal…
The Green Bay Packers have acquired Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team needed…
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jeshaun Jones has been suspended for three games for violating the…
After a memorable 2024 campaign that resulted in an appearance in the National Championship Game,…
The Kansas City Chiefs were left with one major decision before completing their 53-man roster…
After finishing the 2024 season with a 9–4 record, expectations were high for the Crimson…