Second Year in a Row
The culture shift in Indiana Football happened—and it happened fast. After three straight seasons failing to qualify for a bowl game (requiring six regular-season wins), the Hoosiers fired head coach Tom Allen and signed James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti to a massive contract. Following an overhaul—including 37 departures and 31 newcomers—Indiana shocked the country, going an impressive 10-0 before ultimately losing to Ohio State and finishing 11-2 after a playoff loss to Notre Dame.
This season, with another 27 departures and 33 newcomers (freshmen and transfers), Indiana is once again surprising the nation. Through Week 12, the Hoosiers are 11-0 for the first time in program history and ranked second in the AP Poll. Their offense ranks ninth in the country in total points scored, and their defense is fourth nationally, dominating on both sides of the ball and allowing just 249 total yards per game.
Photo Cred: SI
Last week, Indiana dominated the Wisconsin Badgers 31-7, securing their seventh win by 21 or more points. With a rivalry matchup next week against a struggling Purdue team, the Hoosiers are optimistic they will enter the Big Ten Championship Game at 12-0—likely facing Ohio State once again. Indiana has been on a roll all season!
Are They Contenders?
Indiana’s strength of schedule currently ranks 38th in the country. Outside of early non-conference warm-up games, Indiana has played three teams with winning records—Iowa, Illinois, and Oregon—and won all three. Fernando Mendoza leads the country with 30 passing touchdowns, and the Hoosiers’ offense is loaded with weapons.
Elijah Sarratt is generating serious draft buzz, and the team has made beatdowns seem routine. However, the same concern that followed them last year remains: Indiana still hasn’t consistently beaten top-tier competition. Yes, they went undefeated in the regular season last year, but they did so against the bottom eight teams in the Big Ten before being thoroughly outclassed by Ohio State and Notre Dame, the only ranked opponents they faced.
Photo Cred: Indiana
This season, they beat Illinois when the Illini were ranked ninth, though they later fell out of the rankings before reemerging at No. 21. They also defeated a winning Iowa squad, though the Hawkeyes are not ranked. Their biggest win is against Oregon—whose best victories are Penn State or Iowa, neither particularly defining. So while Indiana has dominated nearly everyone in their path and proven themselves against good opponents, they still have not faced a true championship-caliber team.
The looming matchup in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State will be the true test. A win—or even a competitive loss—will prove to analysts and fans that Indiana has leveled up from last season. But another blowout defeat will reinforce the narrative that the Hoosiers are good, but not quite elite.
