Indiana University’s football program entered the 2025 season as the underdog story of the decade, capping it with a flawless 16‑0 record and a national championship that saw them topple the defending champion Ohio State and deliver Alabama its most lopsided bowl defeat ever.
The core that powered that historic run returns intact, led by quarterback Josh Hoover, who brings a 296‑yard average from his TCU days, and offensive tackle Carter Smith, the first Indiana lineman to earn All‑American honors since 1987. Defensive stalwarts Tyrique Tucker and linebacker Rolijah Hardy anchor a unit that will look to repeat its dominance, while a standout moment from Fernando Mendoza in the title game still resonates with fans.
A Daunting Schedule
The Hoosiers open the 2026 campaign against a stacked Big Ten slate, facing Ohio State and Michigan in back‑to‑back weeks, with the Buckeyes sitting atop the AP preseason poll. The conference championship game will be played in Indianapolis on Dec. 5, a venue the team hopes to call home again after a historic rematch against Ohio State.
All of the action will be carried across a national broadcast network that includes Big Ten Network, CBS, Fox, NBC, FS1, NBCSN and Peacock, ensuring that every key matchup reaches viewers on the platforms they prefer.
The 2025 championship was not an isolated flash in the pan; over the past five seasons Indiana has transformed from a perennial contender into a program that consistently finishes among the nation’s elite, setting the stage for a title defense that could redefine the Big Ten landscape.