Indiana is king of college football right now. How long with the Hoosiers’ reign last?
Many have referred to Indiana’s meteoric rise from one of the college football’s worst teams historically to undefeated champions as one of the greatest stories in American sports.
Others around the country are wondering how can they replicate Curt Cignetti’s blueprint and turn their moribund programs into football powers in the blink of an eye. Is it repeatable? Heck, is it repeatable for Indiana?
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The Hoosiers lose plenty of key players off this championship roster, notably Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza and James Madison transfers who followed Cignetti, like Aiden Fisher, D’Angelo Ponds, Mikail Kamara, Elijah Sarratt, Kaelon Black and more, who were so instrumental in the Hoosiers’ turnaround.
But IU returns plenty of talent, too, and Cignetti — the new Portal King — has already restocked the cupboard with one of the nation’s top-ranked transfer classes. Among the haul are impact transfers like TCU QB Josh Hoover, Michigan State WR Nick Marsh, Boston College RB Turbo Richard, Wisconsin OL Joe Brunner, Tulsa DL Joe Hjelle, Penn State CB A.J. Harris and Kansas State pass rushers Tobi Osunsanmi and Chiddi Obiazor, just to name a few.
“In this day and age, you overlook player development and culture, and those are two things that Curt Cignetti instituted — in an NIL era that is very flash-in-the-pan and shortlived — that can stand the test of time,’ ESPN’s Jordan Rodgers said Tuesday morning on ‘Get Up’. ‘I think we’re watching the beginning of a new dynasty, really. And I know it’s hard in this day and age to build that dynasty the way that Nick Saban did, but if you can develop talent like Mendoza, getting him from Cal. (Roman) Hemby was from Maryland. (Charlie) Becker started at Indiana, was a nobody, developed into a superstar. That is elite coaching and that can stand the test of time, and I think Curt Cignetti is building something that will last.”
While Indiana’s 2025 championship season is the headliner, the Hoosiers still reached the College Football Playoff last season, too. In fact, IU’s only losses in 2024 were to the two schools who played for last year’s national title (Ohio State and Notre Dame).
So not exactly a one-hit wonder.
Rodgers’ ESPN colleague Chris Canty agreed an hour later on ‘First Take’: ‘… 2001, the beginning of the dynasty with Bill Belichick in Foxboro. That’s what it feels like with this win, this game. This is like real-life ‘Shark Tank’ for Indiana University. Curt Cignetti comes in from JMU, Year 1, they get to the College Football Playoff. They’re one-and-done, but then more resources get poured into the program. Mark Cuban commits even more money to the program, and then all of a sudden we’re talking about Indiana being the team to beat. This is Curt Cignetti’s college football world and the rest of those coaches are just living in it. I think this is the beginning of a dynastic run for Indiana University.’
What can the Hoosiers do for an encore?
Indiana football incoming transfers for 2026
OL Joe Brunner (Wisconsin)
DE Josh Burnham (Notre Dame)
LS Drew Clausen (Iowa State)
P Billy Gowers (Hawaii)
DB A.J. Harris (Penn State)
DT Joe Hjelle (Tulsa)
QB Josh Hoover (TCU)
WR Nick Marsh (Michigan State)
K Paddy McAteer (Troy)
EDGE Tobi Osunsanmi (Kansas State)
RB Turbo Richard (Boston College)
EDGE Chiddi Obiazor (Kansas State)
WR Shazz Preston (Tulane)
CB Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati)
TE Brock Schott (Miami)
CB Carson Williams (Montana State)
S Preston Zachman (Wisconsin)
Indiana football 2026 schedule
Nonconference opponents, all at home, note: dates subject to change per Big Ten TV assignments
Sept. 5: vs. North Texas
Sept. 12: vs. Howard
Sept. 19: vs. Western Kentucky
Big Ten home opponents
Dates, times, TV assignments TBA
Minnesota
Northwestern
Ohio State
Purdue
USC
Big Ten road opponents
Dates, times, TV assignments TBA Dates TBA
Michigan
Nebraska
Rutgers
Washington
