(Photo: Pro Football Network)
2025 Recap: What a season it was in Bloomington. They really burst onto the scene the year before and made fans notice them in Curt Cignetti’s first season as Head Coach. Last year, they just continued to win and win until you had to give them their credit. I think what made people realize the Indiana Hoosiers were the real deal was the win in Eugene against the Oregon Ducks and believe me, Autzen Stadium is one difficult place to play. Months later in December, they defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten title game and that’s when I knew they were destined to make a run. Indiana became the third consecutive Big Ten team to win a National Title with their win over the Miami Hurricanes.
Key Departures: QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Kaelon Black, WR Omar Cooper Jr, WR Elijah Sarratt & DB D’Angelo Ponds.
2026 Prediction: I understand you’re reading this and you’re saying they lost so many pieces from a title winning team last year. This is very true, but when you have a coach that’s as great as Curt Cignetti, you have a chance and this is exactly why I like Indiana to make another run this year at a playoff berth. Yes, Fernando Mendoza is gone, but I think Josh Hoover will fit in just fine in this offense in Bloomington and he will be throwing to Wide Receiver Charlie Becker who returns for another year and the Michigan State transfer, Nick Marsh. Six starters will also return from a defense last season that allowed 11.7 points per game. The champs will look to run it back.
