The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers football team represented Indiana University Bloomington (Indiana or IU) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Hoosiers were led by second-year head coach Curt Cignetti. They played home games at Memorial Stadium located in Bloomington, Indiana, as members of the Big Ten Conference.
The 2025 season was the most successful season in Indiana's football history. The season included numerous firsts for the program: the Hoosiers defeated a top-five ranked opponent on the road for the first time (week 7 at No. 3 Oregon); had their highest AP poll, Coaches Poll, and College Football Playoff rankings in program history (all at No. 1); had a road victory at Penn State in week 11, marking their first-ever win in Beaver Stadium; finished the regular season with a perfect 12–0 record for the first time (exceeding their program record of 11 wins from the previous year); and made their first Big Ten Championship Game in program history. In that game, they defeated then-No. 1 Ohio State for the first time since 1988, won the Big Ten title for the first time since 1967, and won the conference outright for the first time since 1945. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza also became the first Hoosier to win the Heisman Trophy. This Indiana team was the first one since then to finish the regular season undefeated and the only one to do so without tying a game after ties were abolished following the 1995 regular season with the introduction of overtime. Their appearance in the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State reached a record-breaking 18.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched conference championship in college football history.
As the No. 1 seed in the playoff, they received a first-round bye and played in the Rose Bowl, Indiana's second Rose Bowl appearance (the other being in 1967) and the Hoosiers' third appearance in a major bowl or equivalent. They defeated No. 9 Alabama 38–3 for their first-ever Rose Bowl victory, and became the first top-4 seed to win in the expanded 12-team playoff coming off a bye. This was also the first bowl victory for Indiana since the 1991 Copper Bowl. With the win, they advanced to the national semifinal at the Peach Bowl against the Oregon Ducks. In a rematch of a regular-season game on October 11, they won 56–22, with Fernando Mendoza throwing 5 touchdown passes, marking his second consecutive game with more touchdown passes than incompletions and his fifth of the season, a feat not achieved since the turn of the century.
With the win, the team advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship, their first ever appearance in a national championship game. They defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27–21 at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 to win their first national championship in program history. With the feat, they became the first FBS team to compile a perfect 16-win season since the 1894 Yale Bulldogs, the first Big Ten team other than Michigan or Ohio State to win a consensus national championship since Minnesota in 1960, and the first new team to win a national championship since Florida in 1996. This team also became the first Hoosiers' athletic program to win a national championship and complete an undefeated season since the 1975–76 men's basketball team. The 2025 Indiana Hoosiers are regarded as one of the greatest turnarounds in sports history, as they were just two seasons removed from a 3–9 record and prior to the season had the most all-time losses among FBS college football programs, and Cignetti compiling an astonishing 27–2 record in his first two seasons with Indiana.
Offseason Departures RB Ty Son Lawton WR Andison Coby TE Trey Walker OL Mike Katic OL Nick Kidwell OL Tyler Stephens DE Lanell Carr Jr. DE Jacob Mangum-Farrar S Josh Sanguinetti K Derek McCormick P James Evans DB Shawn Asbury II WR Miles Cross DB Cedarius Doss RB Justice Ellison DB Terry Jones Jr. DB Nic Toomer
NFL draft
Name Pos. Team Round Pick CJ West DL San Francisco 49ers 4 113 Kurtis Rourke QB San Francisco 49ers 7 227 James Carpenter DT Jacksonville Jaguars Undrafted Zach Horton TE Detroit Lions Undrafted Myles Price WR Minnesota Vikings Undrafted Jailin Walker LB Las Vegas Raiders Undrafted Trey Wedig OL Los Angeles Rams Undrafted Ke'Shawn Williams WR Pittsburgh Steelers Undrafted
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CFL draft
Name Pos. Team Round Pick Kurtis Rourke QB Saskatchewan Roughriders 325
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Outgoing transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Josh Philostin 0 DB 5' 11" 180 lbs Fr. Palm Beach, FL Rhode Island Donaven McCulley 1 WR 6' 5" 203 lbs Indianapolis, IN Michigan Makai Jackson 2 WR 6' 0" 200 lbs RS-Sr. Levittown, PA Liberty Tayven Jackson 2 QB 6' 4" 212 lbs Greenwood, IN UCF JoJo Johnson 3 CB 6' 0" 184 lbs Merrillville, IN Bowling Green E.J. Williams Jr. 7 WR 6' 4" 203 lbs Phenix City, AL Withdrew/remained at IU Jamier Johnson 9 DB 5' 11" 181 lbs RS-Jr. Pasadena, CA UCLA DJ Warnell Jr. 10 S 6' 3" 200 lbs La Marque, TX North Texas Roman Purcell 12 QB 6' 1" 214 lbs Indianapolis, IN California (PA) Tyrik McDaniel 17 S 6' 1" 195 lbs Columbia, SC The Citadel Elijah Green 21 RB 6' 0" 207 lbs Roswell, GA Sam Houston Jamison Kelly 21 S 6' 0" 190 lbs Columbia, MS TBD Joshua Rudolph 26 LB 6' 0" 225 lbs Montgomery, AL UTEP Jaz Boykin 28 CB 6' 0" 178 lbs Fishers, IN Hampton Nahji Logan 33 LB 6' 3" 226 lbs Yeadon, PA Nevada Ta'Derius Collins 49 DL 6' 4" 250 lbs RS-Fr. Shreveport, LA Texas State Vince Fiacable 53 OL 6' 4" 315 lbs RS-Jr. Fort Wayne, IN Florida Atlantic Caleb King 54 DE 6' 5" 261 lbs Georgetown, IN TBD Venson Sneed Jr. 55 DE 6' 4" 265 lbs Winter Park, FL Western Kentucky Noah Bolticoff 66 OL 6' 5" 300 lbs Rose Hill, KS North Alabama Austin Barrett 73 OL 6' 6" 308 lbs RS-Fr. Bloomingdale, IL Iowa State Brady Simmons 81 WR 6' 1" 160 lbs Indianapolis, IN Miami (OH) Brody Kosin 82 TE 6' 6" 237 lbs Fr. Clarkston, MI Miami (OH) Brody Foley 86 TE 6' 6" 255 lbs RS-So. Cincinnati, OH Tulsa Sam West 88 TE 6' 4" 246 lbs RS-Fr. Geeensburg, IN Mississippi State Marcus Burris Jr. 92 DL 6' 5" 286 lbs RS-Jr. Texarkana, TX Memphis Robby Harrison 93 DL 6' 4" 298 lbs RS-So. Greenwood, SC Western Kentucky Jamari Farmer LB 6' 0" 210 lbs Fr. Mooresville, NC East Tennessee State
Retirements
Coaching departures
Acquisitions Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school #0 WR 5' 10" 183 lbs Sr. Los Angeles, CA California #0 DL 6' 3" 300 lbs RS-Sr. Elk Grove, CA Western Kentucky #1 RB 6' 0" 208 lbs RS-Sr. Bel Air, MD Maryland #2 WR 6' 0" 200 lbs Sr. Levittown, PA Appalachian State #5 QB 6' 3" 217 lbs RS-Sr.+ Milton, GA Old Dominion #7 S 5' 11" 200 lbs Gr. Mesquite, TX Ole Miss #8 DL 6' 1" 273 lbs Sr. Winchester, VA Kent State #9 WR 5' 11" 185 lbs Sr. Bolingbrook, IL Michigan #10 CB 6' 0" 180 lbs RS-Jr. Buford, GA Pittsburgh #12 CB 5' 11" 175 lbs Gr. Jamestown, NC NC State #13 EDGE 6' 2" 212 lbs Sr. Severn, MD Maryland #15 QB 6' 5" 225 lbs RS-Jr. Miami, FL California #19 TE 6' 4" 248 lbs Sr. Atlanta, GA Tennessee #23 CB 6' 0" 174 lbs RS-Jr. Deerfield Beach, FL Northern Illinois #29 RB 5' 10" 220 lbs RS-Jr. Montgomery, AL UAB #35 K 6' 3" 225 lbs RS-Sr.+ Gretna, NE Texas State #37 TE 6' 1" 243 lbs RS-Sr.+ Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin #44 P 6' 5" 230 lbs Sr. Melbourne, AUS UCF #45 LS 6' 0" 185 lbs RS-So. Lilburn, GA Georgia State #67 OL 6' 6" 305 lbs RS-Sr.+ Southaven, MS Colorado #75 OL 6' 6" 319 lbs RS-Sr. Floyds Knobs, IN Ohio State #78 OL 6' 5" 311 lbs RS-Sr. Palos Heights, IL Notre Dame #91 DL 6' 3" 285 lbs RS-Sr.+ Conroe, TX Texas State
Recruiting class
New walk-ons
Coaches acquisitions
Preseason
Spring game Fernando Mendoza was "firmly entrenched as the starter" after spring football camp.Niziolek, MIchael - Indiana football: Highlights, starters and stats from 2025 spring game Bloomington (IN) Herald Times, April 17, 2025 Fernando's brother, Alberto Mendoza was the first backup, followed by Old Dominion transfer Grant Wilson.
Date Time Spring Game Site TV Result Source April 17 8:00 Offense vs. Defense Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, IN 31–23 (Offense)
Big Ten media days Indiana was projected to finish sixth in the Big Ten in the preseason media poll.Parks, James - Big Ten preseason media football rankings for 2025, and there's a new No. 1 team Sports Illustrated, July 21, 2025 quote: "6. Indiana. Curt Cignetti’s historic first season saw the Hoosiers make the College Football Playoff, and while there’s some roster turnover to consider, incoming quarterback Fernando Mendoza is a key pickup, and there’s some important continuity on this defense."
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Old Dominion
Statistics ODU IU First downs 10 29 Total yards 45–314 89–502 Rushing yards 23–218 57–309 Passing yards 96 193 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 11–22–3 18–32–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 18:32 41:28
Team Category Player Statistics Old Dominion PassingColton Joseph 11/22, 96 yards, 3 INT Rushing 10 carries, 179 yards, 2 TD Receiving Naeem Abdul-Rahim-Gladding 4 receptions, 35 yards Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 18/31, 193 yards Rushing Roman Hemby 23 carries, 111 yards Receiving Omar Cooper Jr. 2 receptions, 52 yards
vs Kennesaw State
Statistics KENN IU First downs 10 28 Plays–yards 53–271 67–593 Rushes–yards 32–89 39–313 Passing yards 182 280 Passing: –– 13–21–1 21–28–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 27:30 32:30
Team Category Player Statistics Kennesaw State Passing Amari Odom 10/16, 176 yards, INT Rushing Coleman Bennett 5 carries, 34 yards Receiving Lyndon Ravare 2 receptions, 72 yards Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 18/25, 245 yards, 4 TD Rushing Lee Beebe Jr. 11 carries, 90 yards, TD Receiving Elijah Sarratt 9 receptions, 97 yards, 3 TD
vs Indiana State (FCS)
Statistics INST IU First downs 5 33 Plays–yards 59–77 67–680 Rushes–yards 31–39 37–301 Passing yards 38 379 Passing: –– 11–20–0 26–30–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 26:08 33:37
Team Category Player Statistics Indiana State Passing Brock Riddle 3/4, 25 yards Rushing Angelo St. Louis 5 carries, 22 yards Receiving Keshon Singleton 1 reception, 17 yards Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 19/20, 270 yards, 5 TD RushingKhobie Martin11 carries, 109 yards, 2 TD Receiving Omar Cooper Jr. 10 receptions, 207 yards, 4 TD
vs No. 9 Illinois (rivalry)
Statistics ILL IU First downs 9 31 Plays–yards 45–161 72–579 Rushes–yards 20–2 49–312 Passing yards 159 267 Passing: –– 16–25–1 21–23–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 20:17 39:43
Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 14/22, 146 yards, TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 5 carries, 18 yards Receiving Collin Dixon 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 21/23, 267 yards, 5 TD Rushing Khobie Martin 12 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Sarratt 9 receptions, 92 yards, 2 TD
at Iowa
Statistics IU IOWA First downs 18 17 Plays–yards 62–337 69–284 Rushes–yards 39–104 31–92 Passing yards 233 192 Passing: –– 13–23–1 24–38–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 27:18 32:42
Team Category Player Statistics Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 13/23, 233 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Roman Hemby 15 carries, 86 yards Receiving Elijah Sarratt 6 receptions, 132 yards, TD Iowa Passing Mark Gronowski 19/25, 144 yards, INT Rushing Kamari Moulton 18 carries, 75 yards Receiving Sam Phillips 5 receptions, 64 yards
at No. 3 Oregon
Statistics IUORE First downs 23 14 Plays–yards 64–343 64–267 Rushes–yards 33–128 30–81 Passing yards 215 186 Passing: –– 20–31–1 21–34–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:10 26:50 Team Category Player Statistics Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 20/31, 215 yards, TD, INT Rushing Roman Hemby 19 carries, 70 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Sarratt 8 receptions, 121 yards, TD Oregon Passing Dante Moore 21/34, 186 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jordon Davison 8 carries, 59 yards Receiving Malik Benson 1 reception, 44 yards, TD