Last year, much was made of Indiana’s run to the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff. The schedule was under scrutiny, and many people argued that the Hoosiers didn’t deserve a spot, instead favoring a three-loss SEC team. Then, Indiana lost in the first round to Notre Dame, the national runners-up. After losing a handful of contributors, questions arose heading into 2025. Could Curt Cignetti’s team do it again?
To start off 2025, Indiana faced off against the likes of Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, and Indiana State (FCS). Needless to say, the schedule detractors let the Hoosiers know of their displeasure. In the era of a 12-team playoff, it doesn’t pay to have a tough out-of-conference schedule. Plus, and we’ve said this before, Indiana was not exactly an opponent that Power 4 programs were looking to schedule. Historically, the Hoosiers have been awful. Now that the script has flipped, Cignetti has Indiana right where he wants it.
After the three-game non-conference slate, Indiana hosted ninth-ranked Illinois for what looked to be a tough start to the Big Ten slate.
The Hoosiers obliterated the Illini, 63-7.
So, the question must be asked: Is Indiana for real, or are they, again, the beneficiaries of a weak schedule?
Cinderella No More: Indiana is Making its Case as a Contender
The Road So Far
The matchup with Old Dominion was not quite as smooth as the Hoosiers had hoped. Fernando Mendoza did not immediately live up to the potential first-round-pick hype he had coming into the season. However, Indiana was able to lean on a strong rushing attack. Behind Roman Hemby (111 yards), Kaelon Black (92 yards, two touchdowns), Lee Beebe Jr. (73 yards), and Mendoza (33 yards, one touchdown), the Hoosiers put up 333 yards on the ground. That’s going to be a theme; Indiana runs the ball well.
After the Monarchs scored the game’s first touchdown, Indiana rattled off 27 unanswered thanks to that rushing attack as well as a trio of interceptions.
The following week, Indiana found its rhythm. Kennesaw State came to town, and Mendoza had his first big game of the year. The Cal transfer passed for 245 yards and four touchdowns while completing 18-of-25 passes. Three of those touchdowns went to Elijah Sarratt. On the ground, no player went over 100 yards, but the Hoosiers amassed 313 yards, led by Beebe Jr.
Then, the Hoosiers took off against in-state FCS foe, Indiana State, as expected. We have seen plenty of FBS-over-FCS beatdowns in this young season, but what Indiana did was nothing short of nuclear obliteration. The Hoosiers won, 73-0, and outgained the Sycamores 680 to 77. Mendoza was nearly perfect, tossing 270 yards and five touchdowns with just one incompletion. 207 yards, and four of those touchdowns went to Omar Cooper Jr.
The oddest and most impressive part of the win? There were no turnovers between either team. Indiana lined up and imposed its will at every turn.
Better Than Last Year?
Last year’s Indiana team was the best in program history by a wide margin. And yet, most of those contributors returned in 2025, while Cignetti added a few more pieces in the transfer portal. Mendoza was the big fish that raised eyebrows. He broke out with the California Bears last year with 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns to just six interceptions.
His receivers have shown that they can take over a game if need be. Both Sarratt and Cooper have monster performances, and their five touchdowns each are tied for the conference’s best.
Additionally, the Hoosiers are, so far, much better on the ground. Last year, Indiana averaged 165 yards per game on the ground, featuring five 200+ games and just one with over 300.
This year, that total is sitting at 308.75 yards per game with the Hoosiers amassing over at least 301 yards in each.
A sample size of four games does not make an entire season. However, in those four games, Indiana has looked more dominant than it did at any point last year.
What’s Ahead
Indiana still has one more matchup before its first bye week. This Saturday, the Hoosiers travel to 3-1 Iowa. The Hawkeyes should be a formidable test, but if Indiana was able to dismantle Illinois, Iowa should not be as much of a test.
Then, after the bye, the first true test awaits. Indiana must travel to Oregon for the first matchup with the Ducks since 2004 and fourth all-time. The Ducks look to be a legit CFP contender to this point with Dante Moore and that impressive offense. Oregon has its first test this weekend against Penn State, so if the Ducks get the win on the road, this could be a top-10 matchup. The other wrinkle is that Oregon is also on a bye next week, giving it plenty of time to rest up and prepare.
After Oregon, Indiana hosts Michigan State. The Spartans look better than they did last year, but there is still work to be done. The following week, Indiana gets to play a program in disarray. UCLA has already fired its coach, and it appears to be firmly at the bottom of the conference. Then, a trip to Maryland awaits.
The second big test will be on November 8 in Happy Valley. Penn State is another CFP hopeful, and it looks to return after nearly making the National Championship a year ago. The Nittany Lions have to travel to Ohio State the week prior, so there could be plenty of drama leading up to this one.
Wisconsin comes to town the next week and the Badgers look…rough. Indiana lucks out there and, after the second bye week in the penultimate week of the season, the Hoosiers face off against their main rival, Purdue.
The expectation is that 10-2 has to be the floor. Will that be enough to make it? It probably should be, but politics are always at play with the committee. Will they be favored over a three-loss SEC team? It’s unlikely. However, that’s why they play the game.
Indiana looks better than it did in 2024. It’s no longer the bottom feeder, nor is it the Cinderella just lucky to be at the dance. The Hoosiers are attacking college football in a way it never has.
Main Image: Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
