The Indiana University football program has undergone a significant transformation under head coach Curt Cignetti, progressing from a historically challenged team to a national championship contender within two years. This rapid success is attributed to increased financial investment, strategic use of transfer rules, and Cignetti's coaching approach. The team currently holds a 14-0 record in the 2025 season and is scheduled to compete in a College Football Playoff semifinal against Oregon. The program's rise has prompted discussions about college football rebuilding timelines and dynamics, impacting rivalries and fan expectations.
Historical Context
Indiana University's football program historically faced challenges, holding a record for the most losses in NCAA Division I history. Prior to recent seasons, the program achieved six-win seasons only 26 times in 138 years. The team's last appearance in the Rose Bowl was following the 1967 season, and it had not won a bowl game in decades. Notable players like Antwaan Randle El did not lead the team to more than five wins in a season. Previous coaching tenures, including those of Lee Corso, Bill Mallory, and Terry Hoeppner, aimed to elevate the program, with Coach Hoeppner leading the team to bowl eligibility in 2007 before his death.
Curt Cignetti's Appointment and Program Transformation
Curt Cignetti was appointed as Indiana University's head football coach on November 30, 2023. Cignetti, whose coaching career began in 1983 and included positions at institutions such as Pittsburgh, Alabama, Elon, and James Madison, emphasized an immediate pressure to achieve success. Under his leadership, the program's cumulative record for the 2024 and 2025 seasons stands at 26-2.
Several factors have contributed to this rapid development:
- Coaching Expertise: Cignetti has a history of winning at previous institutions.
- Financial Investment: Indiana significantly increased its football spending, with the budget more than doubling from under $24 million in 2021 to over $61 million in 2024, exceeding the Big Ten median. Personnel outside the program estimate Indiana spent over $20 million on its roster, partly due to transfer additions. The school also absorbed a $15.5 million buyout for the previous coach, and billionaire Mark Cuban has begun donating to the team.
- Transfer Rules: Loosened transfer portal rules facilitated quicker roster reconstruction, allowing the acquisition of players such as D'Angelo Ponds, Elijah Sarratt, and Mikail Kamara from James Madison, and quarterback Fernando Mendoza. This has contributed to a broader distribution of talent, with 11 different schools reaching College Football Playoff semifinals in the last three years.
This financial commitment has influenced how coaches evaluate opportunities, with resources for players and recruiting becoming a primary consideration. Administrators at other institutions are responding to increased fan expectations for immediate success by announcing plans to increase roster spending, as seen with Wisconsin and Maryland.
On-Field Performance: 2024 and 2025 Seasons
In the 2024 season, Indiana achieved a six-game winning streak, marking the program's best start in 57 years and securing bowl eligibility. Key victories included a 56-7 win over Nebraska, the largest margin of victory in a Big Ten conference game for IU. Wins against Washington and Michigan State propelled the team into the AP Top 10 for the first time since 1967. The team secured its first-ever 10-win season by defeating Michigan, concluding the regular season with a 66-0 victory over Purdue. The season concluded with a loss to Notre Dame in the opening round of the College Football Playoff.
The 2025 season saw continued program improvement. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza was awarded the Heisman Trophy, the first in the school's history. The team recorded the third-best offense and second-best defense nationally, committing 11 defensive penalties throughout the season. Significant victories included a 63-10 win over Illinois, marking the largest margin of victory against a top-10 Big Ten opponent. Indiana also defeated Oregon, marking Oregon's first home loss in two years, and secured large-margin wins against UCLA (50 points) and Maryland (45 points), along with a comeback victory at Penn State. The Hoosiers secured their first Big Ten Championship since 1967 by defeating Ohio State 13-10 in the conference title game. The team followed this with a 38-3 victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, a game reported as one of the most-viewed college football games in several years. With a 14-0 record, Indiana is currently ranked No. 1 nationally.
Peach Bowl and National Championship Contention
Indiana's football team arrived in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Peach Bowl, where they are scheduled to compete against Oregon in a College Football Playoff semifinal. The winner will advance to the national championship game. Indiana's team arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 8:46 p.m. ET, with Oregon's team arriving approximately three minutes later.
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who refrains from most social media platforms to maintain focus, commented on the competitive arrival of the teams. He acknowledged the support from Indiana fans, citing the Alabama game where a reported 80% Indiana fans contributed to a "home field advantage." Despite the team's higher ranking in the College Football Playoff seed, Mendoza stated the team is maintaining an "underdog" mentality for the upcoming game against Oregon, acknowledging Oregon's talent.
Impact on In-State Rivalry
Indiana University's football success has affected fans of rival Purdue University. Purdue alumnus Tommy Barrett described watching Indiana's achievements as a "living nightmare." Kylee Kleven, Purdue's student newspaper sports editor, highlighted an internal debate among Purdue supporters regarding whether to support a fellow Indiana school on a national stage. Media observers, such as Matt Connolly, note that the Purdue-Indiana rivalry has historically been more prominent in men's basketball, where Indiana holds five national titles compared to Purdue's none.
Purdue's men's basketball program, under coach Matt Painter, has maintained consistent strength, though it lost its national title game appearance two seasons prior. In contrast, Purdue's football team went 2-10 in 2025, including 0-9 in Big Ten play. Former Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean drew parallels between Curt Cignetti and Matt Painter, noting their shared focus on player development and organizational strength without relying solely on high-profile recruits. Many Purdue fans, including Barrett and Kleven, plan to watch the national championship game.