CFB Top 50, #17: 2025 Indiana Hoosiers

by
Bracket Yard
August 6, 2025

College football starts in 17 days, a fact known by the 2025 Indiana Hoosiers, next on our CFB Top 50 countdown.

Indiana was a damn good football team in 2024. The Hoosiers won 11 games for the first time in the program’s lengthy history, making it to the College Football Playoff, also for the first time. This begs the obvious question: Just what in the hell is Coach Curt Cignetti going to do for an encore that tops his first season in Bloomington?

Much like their frenemies in Champaign, consecutive winning seasons for Indiana is a bit of a rarity. Both programs may have turned a big corner, but there’s only one way to find out.

2025 Indiana Hoosiers Basic Facts

Head Coach: Curt Cignetti (2nd season)

2025 Conference: Big Ten

2024 Record: 11-2 (8-1), 3rd in Big Ten

Final Resolution of Last Season: Lost in College Football Playoff, ranked 10th (AP)

2024 Scoring Offensive Rank: 2nd (41.3)

2024 Scoring Defensive Rank: 6th (15.6)

Indiana Key Additions and Subtractions

IN – Fernando Mendoza, quarterback. Transferred from California.

IN – Holden Staes, tight end. Transferred from Tennessee.

OUT – CJ West, defensive tackle. Drafted by San Francisco in 4th round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Kurtis Rourke, quarterback. Drafted by San Francisco in 7th round of 2025 Draft.

Best Game on the Schedule in 2025

November 8 at Penn State. This one should be fun. These two teams did not have the pleasure of meeting in 2024 during Indiana’s dream season, but given the conference ties between these two programs, and the fact that both are likely to be ranked at the time of this contest, it will be one to watch.

2025 Indiana Hoosiers: Outlook

Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a great year for Indiana in leading them to the CFP. The only problem is that he’s gone. However, Indiana lured in Cal quarterback Fernando Mendoza to command the offense. His stats may not have been as flashy as Rourke’s, but he was certainly good enough, throwing for over 3,000 passing yards for the Bears.

Maintaining a top-five offense and a top-five defense will be a tough task. However, on the offensive side of the ball, there have been a few transfers, and the whole projected starting 11 are upperclassmen. That is mostly the case on the defensive side of the ball as well, in which you will see returning standouts such as Mikail Kamara, Amare Ferrell, and Aiden Fisher.

Indiana has the player personnel and the coaching to have another strong season. Winning the Big Ten is one thing, and with some of those teams ahead of them, maybe a bridge too far, but they didn’t win the conference last year and still made the playoff. While that may or may not happen again, Indiana is in line for another winning season and a respectable bowl game assignment; anything less would be a disappointment.