A New Era Under Curt Cignetti
Indiana University’s football team has been tabbed No. 6 in the 2026 Associated Press preseason Top 25, earning eight first‑place votes and a total of 1,440 points, the third‑highest tally behind Ohio State and Oregon.
The Hoosiers arrive as reigning national champions after completing an undefeated 16‑0 campaign in 2025 and capturing their first College Football Playoff title, a milestone that has propelled the program into the national spotlight.
Head coach Curt Cignetti, now in his third season, oversees a roster that returns four offensive starters, six defensive starters and one special‑teams starter, while also welcoming high‑profile transfer additions such as Nick Marsh and Josh Hoover.
ESPN’s Football Power Index projects a 10‑2 finish for Indiana, giving the team a 57.1 % chance to return to the playoff and a 13.1 % chance of reaching the championship game, while SP+ metrics rank the Hoosiers No. 5 overall.
The season opens on September 5 at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington against North Texas, kicking off what many expect to be another dominant campaign for the Hoosiers.