Can Indiana Maintain Their Undefeated Season in the Playoffs?
What we’ve witnessed these past two years from Indiana Football could very well be the quickest and best turnaround in any program’s history. This isn’t just any program; Indiana holds the record for most losses in college football history. That was until the savior known as Curt Cignetti took the helm as the Hoosiers’ coach in 2024 and led them to their best season in program history at the time with an 11-2 record, and those two losses being to the two teams who played in that year’s National Championship game. This year is a different story: the Hoosiers are much more dominant on both sides of the field, Cig is becoming increasingly strategic, and Indiana is the sole undefeated team in college football after knocking off then first ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship game. The Journey isn’t over yet, as the Hoosiers have a spot in college football’s most prestigious game, the Rose Bowl on January 1st, and are looking to extend this magical season.
After suffering a cheap shot from Indianapolis’ own and Ohio State DL Caden Curry, many worried for Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza’s health as he winced in pain on the turf. Luckily, Mendoza came back after just sitting out for one play, as the crowd in Lucas Oil Stadium erupted at his return. This is a microcosm of this Indiana team’s resilience, as no matter how many times they have faced adversity or doubt from so-called experts, they continue to prove everyone wrong every single time, and have done so countless times this season. During the Penn State game, nobody expected IU to come back, given the situation, and Omar Cooper’s toe-tap touchdown will be talked about for years to come.
Over the next month and a half, Indiana has plenty of time to prepare for either Oklahoma or Alabama, two teams that will be lucky to score multiple touchdowns against the Hoosiers’ vaunted defense. Along with preparing for these two SEC powerhouses, the offense is hoping for the return of wide receiver Omar Cooper, who went down early in the Big Ten Championship game with a lower leg injury. On top of that, the defense will be without defensive lineman Stephen Daley, who suffered a leg injury after the championship game, while high-fiving fans in the stands. Cignetti hopes Cooper will be ready for the Rose Bowl, but Daley will most likely be out, which just adds to the ongoing adversity this team has faced. No matter how many injuries or pundits predicting a loss, the Indiana Hoosiers have a certain type of resiliency; something almost divine, and will continue to prove their worth as they usher in a new era of Indiana football.
