The No. 19 (AP Poll) team in the nation, the Indiana Hoosiers had a storybook season last season going 11-2 under first year head coach Curt Cignetti. Indiana took the college football world by storm last season with a magical run but their season ended in the first round of the College Football Playoff in a 27-17 loss to No. 5 Notre Dame (12-1).
Fast forward to 2025-26 and the Indiana Hoosiers program started off ranked in the top 25 of every major preseason poll, returning three All-Americans on defense and brought in quarterback Fernando Mendoza, running back Roman Hemby and three starters on the offensive line all through the transfer portal.