- Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (second season)
- 2024 Record: 11-2 (lost in CFP First Round)
- Strength of Schedule: 67th
- PFF Projected Win Total: 7.9
- FanDuel Win Total: 8.5
2024 Recap
Indiana was college football’s Cinderella story in 2024. In Curt Cignetti’s first season as head coach, the Hoosiers won 11 games — two more wins than the program’s previous record — and reached the College Football Playoff. That success followed a rough three-year stretch in which Indiana went just 9-27.
With multiple key players returning, the Hoosiers are well-positioned for another playoff run. While Indiana did lose star quarterback Kurtis Rourke, California transfer Fernando Mendoza is already generating serious buzz ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Biggest Strength: Plenty of star power returning
Indiana returns several key contributors from last season’s playoff team, including four players who ranked among the top 10 at their respective positions in PFF’s preseason rankings, tied for the fifth-most of any school.
Biggest Weakness: Can Fernando Mendoza reach the highs Kurtis Rourke did?
Rourke was one of the top quarterbacks in the country last season, and he earned a 90.2 passing grade that ranked fourth in the FBS behind only Jaxson Dart, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. While Mendoza is generating NFL draft buzz, he’ll need to improve his decision-making after recording more turnover-worthy plays (17) than big-time throws (12) in 2024.
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