Indiana Hoosiers football has an all time record of 535 wins, 714 losses, and 45 ties, according to USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/01/19/indiana-football-worst-team-college-football-cfp-title/88164466007. On January 19, they completed their first undefeated season and their first National Championship ever. Last season, they had a very impressive season for their standards, losing to Notre Dame in the first round, and the previous season, they finished 3-9. So how did Indiana do such fairytale things this season? Let’s dive into the three main factors that fueled their run.
Curt Cignetti
The story of Curt Cignetti actually starts with Nick Saban, where he served as the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for the newly powerful Alabama Crimson Tide from 2007 to 2010. He left to become the head coach of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Six successful years later, he became Elon’s coach in 2017. By 2018, he had left to pursue his next chapter at JMU. By 2023, he coached the Dukes so well that the school offered him a massive raise to stay, but he joined the Hoosiers instead.
His first season, expectations were low. But, no coach that worked under Saban holds his team to low expectations. They quickly rolled over their opponents, featuring an impressive home win against Michigan. Curt met his match, however, when him and his Hoosiers arrived at “The Shoe” at Ohio State. He lost 38-15, and his opportunity to play in the BIG 10 Championship. Weeks later, Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame handled Cignetti in Indiana’s first CFP (College Football Playoffs) appearance 27-17.
The next season, this past season, he was greeted with a new Quarterback, and a new bar was set. Indiana wasn’t a joke anymore; they were top 10 and to be treated seriously. The pressure is enough to cause any coach to falter, but not Cignetti. His strong leadership and old-fashioned disciplined mindset led his team onto the boat and into the harbor, and his loyal players were able to play their way into beating Miami in the 2026 Championship.
JMU Transfers
When questioned on who deserved more credit for this year’s historic Indiana run, CHS student Evan Cook said, “I think Curt Cignetti because he got good transfers.”
While Curt Cignetti was coaching at James Madison University, he boasted a 52-9 record. With his success, he also gained a huge amount of praise from his players. So, reasonably, when the transfer portal started up in 2023 and their head coach was leaving for Indiana, his winning players followed him.
Some of the most famous of these players include Kaelon Black, a first year Hoosier with over 1,000 rushing yards and known for his powerful and swift runs. Aiden Fisher, their leading tackler, is also a former Duke. Finally, a key receiver, Elijah Sarratt, racked up 15 receiving touchdowns this season after being a part of Cignetti’s JMU team in 2023. His touchdowns led CFB.
Player loyalty is an important factor in today’s college football, especially with the introduction and encouragement of the transfer portal and NIL deals to players. The days of 4 year guys are fading, and Cignetti seems to have captured the last of what remains of that era.
Fernando Mendoza
The biggest headline for Indiana football this season was the massive success of quarterback Fernando Mendoza. He was a former Cal Bear who transferred to Indiana after seeing an opportunity to play for Curt Cignetti. Mendoza was a project, and not many expectations were set for him. However, that would change very soon when Indiana defeated Oregon away from home in week 6 of the regular season. That game was “actually crazy” according to an anonymous CHS student when interviewed on their season. When the spotlight was on Mendoza and company, it never left. They quickly finished their season undefeated and secured Indiana’s first BIG 10 Championship title since 1945. Fernando played exceptionally well, becoming the first Indiana quarterback to throw for 30 and 40 or more touchdowns, with 41. He became the first Indiana Heisman winner as the heavy favorite in his class.
And he wasn’t only a odds-based favorite–he was a fan favorite. CHS student Evan Cook highlights it best when he said, “He is good, I like him a lot.” His humbled and polite manner swept over social media, earning the hearts of millions. However, he didn’t seem to get much praise from his opposing teams due to his upcoming playoff challenges.
He ended up squared off in a high-stakes matchup against Alabama’s star quarterback Ty Simpson. Of course, Mendoza outplayed Simpson with 3 passing touchdowns and Alabama was toppled 38-3. The Hoosiers advanced to rematch Oregon, where most thought they met their match. Fernando Mendoza threw 5 touchdowns in that game, easily rolling over another 5 star school 56-22. Finally, he had to face Miami and their stifling defense in the National Championship Game. Mendoza famously secured the win, up by 3, by scrambling up the middle on 4th and 4 and diving towards the end zone, giving Indiana a 10 point lead.
Fernando Mendoza secured the offensive MVP award for the championship game, and analysts now project him as the first pick in the 2026 NFL draft, according to CBS, https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2026-nfl-mock-draft-caleb-banks-lee-hunter-senior-bowl-standouts-first-round/.
