Indiana University Football Celebrates its National Championship Football Team On a 11 Degree Saturday afternoon in January Indiana University fans filed in to Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium to celebrate its 2025 National Championship Football Team who finished with a 16-0 record and its first ever National Title in Football along with many other first that Hoosiers fans have never seen before when discussing the Football team who went from the Outhouse to Penthouse in two seasons under Head Coach Curt Cignetti. It was just another gameday, there was the walk to the rock, The Marching Hundred Pre Game, Hoosier the Bison coming on out on the Motorcycle and firing up the crowd with the I-U chants and all the pre-game music and fireworks. The team came out of the same tunnel, and they were led out by the Marching Hundred, The Cheerleaders and Hoosier the Bison. The Hoosiers came out and walked the length of the field to their chairs and the stage that was set up at the South End Zone.
Longtime Radio Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer opened the celebration talking about how this program was on “Life Support” before Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington and now sit on top of the College Football World. A Video played with highlights of the National Championship Game when the Hoosiers beat the Miami Hurricanes 27-17 Monday Night in Hard Rock Stadium capped off by Fischer’s call that the Hoosiers have won the National Championship. Fischer was part of the Hoosiers 1976, 1981 and 1987 National Championships in Basketball and in 1976 the Hoosiers went 32-0 which was the last perfect season in Men’s Basketball. Fischer introduced many speakers including University President Pam Whitten who told the students that were in attendance “You can say you were a student here when Indiana University won the National Football Championship for the first time, but it won’t be the last.” Seymour Native and now Bloomington Resident John Mellencamp made a surprise appearance and performed his famous hit” Hurts So Good” with the players helping him signing it. There were several trophy presentations including the Heisman Trophy that Fernando Mendoza won December 13 in New York City. Mendoza became the school’s first ever Heisman Trophy winner and the trophy that he lifted in December is his but the Heisman Trophy Trust Executive Jeff Price but a second trophy and presented it to the University that is theirs to keep to which Curt Cignetti said after all these new trophy’s that the Hoosiers collected “I guess were are going to need a new trophy case.”
Cignetti addressed the crowd and thanked the fans for all the support and mention how Hoosier Nation showed out in force during the three game College Football Playoff run and reminded the crowd that “Chapter 3 starts tomorrow” not forgetting that he is shifting its focus to the 2026 season. The Players spoke including Mikhail Kamara, D’Angelo Ponds, Aiden Fisher, Elijah Sarratt, Riley Nowakowski, Pat Coogan and Fernando Mendoza. They all thanked the crowd for their support and how grateful and thankful they are to be part of this program and brought Hoosier Nation their first National Football Championship. Athletic Director Scott Dolson addressed the crowd and when he hired Curt Cignetti in November 2023, he told Coach over the phone “That we were going to shock the world” and Cignetti “You’re right Scott lets go.” At the end of the 35-minute celebration Don Fischer said there is only more thing to do and he asked Aiden Fisher to lead the crowd into “Indiana our Indiana” and once that was done the fireworks went off and the team went the full length of the field toward the South End Zone to end this historic afternoon of celebration of a National Championship.
Indiana went 11-2 in 2024 and reached the College Football Playoff losing to Notre Dame in the first round 27-17. Indiana’s only regular season lost was at Ohio State 38-15 in Columbus. The Hoosiers outscored their opponents 537-203, averaging 41.3 points on offense and giving up 15.6 points on defense. The Hoosiers scored 50 or more points in four games including a 66-0 win over Purdue to reclaim the Old Oaken Bucket at home. Indiana won 10 of the 11 games by double digits and finished 8-1 in the Big Ten which was the most in a Big Ten season. Indiana started the year 10-0 which was the first time that the Hoosiers have had double digit wins in a season. The Hoosiers followed it up with a 2025 that no one will ever forget. Indiana completed its first perfect regular season with a 12-0 record and just the second season ever that the Hoosiers finished a season without a loss when they finished 9-0-1 in 1945. Indiana outscored its opponents 666-187 averaging 41.6 points on offense and allowing 11.6 on defense. The Hoosiers scored over fifty points in seven games this season including a 56-3 over Purdue in West Lafayette to keep the Old Oaken Bucket for the second year in a row. The Hoosiers climbed up the rankings to #2 in the regular season and advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time against #1 Ohio State in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on December 6th. Indiana beat Ohio State 13-10 to avenge last year’s loss and win their third Big Ten Championship in program history and first since 1967 with other in 1945.
Indiana was named #1 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls for the first time in program history and the #1 overall seed in the 12-Team College Football Playoff for the first time. Indiana made its second ever appearance in the Rose Bowl and 58 years to the day losing to USC 14-3 in 1968. Indiana beat #9 Alabama 38-3 in the Quarterfinals of the Rose Bowl followed by a 56-22 win over #5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta and then capped off Monday Night with a 27-21 win over #10 Miami in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and is the home stadium of the Hurricanes. The Hoosiers are 27-2 under Curt Cignetti which is the most wins ever by a coach in his first two years at program. There have been 30 coaches in program history and Cignetti is seventh on the all-time win list. Indiana had the most losses in FBS History with 719 coming into the season and now are second behind Northwestern. Before Cignetti the Hoosiers were 502-717-46 and he has completed one of the best turnarounds in all sports. Indiana had won three bowl games before this year and now the Hoosiers have six and Cignetti has three of those. Cignetti has only two seasons that the Hoosiers have had 10 or more wins in a season and a 17-1 Big Ten record in two years with 14 of those wins by double digits and from 2014-23 the Hoosiers had 10 wins by double digits in that period. Indiana under Cignetti has won 22 games by double digits and are 15-0 at home. Indiana has outscored its opponents 1,203-390 averaging 41.4 points on offense and giving up 13.4 on defense. Cignetti is 146-37 as a Head Coach made a lot of bold predictions when he arrived in Bloomington and he has delivered and has done it his way with his process and now not only does Hoosier Nation celebrate a National Championship they believe there are more to come in the future.
Indiana University Women’s Basketball travels to Purdue for Rivalry Showdown The latest chapter in the Indiana-Purdue Women’s Basketball series will be written today when the in-state rivals square off in Mackey Arena in West Lafayette today at Noon with television coverage on the Big Ten Network. Indiana is 11-9 on the season and 0-8 in the Big Ten. Purdue is 10-9 on the season and 2-6 in the Big Ten. Purdue leads the All-time series 53-44 dating back to 1972 when the series began. Indiana has owned Purdue winning the last 13 meetings since a 56-53 Purdue win in West Lafayette on January 20, 2019. Indiana has won 17 of the last 18 meetings since 2017. The Hoosiers are 16-28 in West Lafayette and have won six straight at Mackey Arena.
It’s has been a difficult stretch for the Hoosiers losing seven in a row. Indiana led by 15 points Thursday night at #12 Ohio State and lost to the Buckeyes 81-67. Ohio State outscored Indiana 49-25 in the second half. Indiana has struggled in third quarters, and it showed as the Buckeyes outscored the Hoosiers 27-13. Ohio State turned up the pressure as Indiana had 26 turnovers for the game. Shay Ciezki leads the Hoosiers with 23 points and 1.4 steals per game. Lenee Beaumont averages 13.6 points and a team leading 3 assists per game. Zania Socka-Nguemen averages 11.8 points, a team leading 8.7 and the co-leader in blocked shots along with Edessa Noyan at 0.3 per game. The Hoosiers average 70.6 points, 12.1 assists and 15.1 turnovers per game. Indiana is shooting 47% from the field, 38 percent from three-point range and 78% from the field.
Purdue returns home after their Los Angeles Road swing with back-to-back losses against USC 83-57 and UCLA 96-48. The Boilermakers two conference wins came right before the trip to the West Coast winning at Wisconsin 75-67 and knocking off a ranked Washington team at the time 78-72 in overtime. Tara Daye leads the Boilers with 12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. Kiki Smith is averaging 10.2 points per game. Madison Layden-Zay averages 9.8 points per game and leads the team with 3 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Lana McCarthy leads the team with 0.6 blocks per game along with 7.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. Purdue averages 70.2 points, 15.1 assists and 16.8 turnovers per game. The Boilermakers shoot 44% from the field, 34% from three-point range and 73% from the free throw line. Purdue has 13 player roster that Includes 5 from the Hoosier State while the rest of the team represents New Jersey, California, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Missouri, Kansas, Georgia and Israel. There are 2 Seniors, 5 Juniors, 3 Sophomores and 3 Freshman.
Purdue Head Coach Katie Geralds is looking for her first win against the Hoosiers as a Head Coach and first against Teri Moren who know each other well. Both Coaches played at Purdue in different era but both had a success and as Indiana natives they know how important this game is and means to everyone around the State of Indiana. The crowds for these games are always large and when Indiana makes the two-hour trip to West Lafayette there are several fan buses that have Indiana fans that give the Hoosiers a lot of support away from home. The weather is not going to cooperate this time with a winter storm warning in the effect that cancelled the fan bus this time. But will be big game for both teams as Indiana looks for their conference win and Purdue wants to end a long losing streak against their archrivals.
Fernando Mendoza Declares for the NFL Draft Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza has made official what most expected after the 2025-26 season: he’s entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza announced his decision on Instagram on Friday morning, in the middle of a media tour in New York City. He made a brief appearance on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” on Thursday, and he’s set to join “CBS Mornings” on Friday. After transferring to IU from California in December 2024, Mendoza turned in the greatest individual season in Indiana football history. He brought home the program’s first-ever Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to a historic 16-0 campaign that ended in their first national championship. His 12-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the College Football Playoff National Championship Game will live on in Indiana football lore for generations to come.
The Miami native threw for 3,535 yards, coming only 38 yards short of Nate Sudfeld’s single-season program record from 2015. But his 41 touchdown passes shattered IU’s single season record and even ranked sixth for career touchdown passes. Mendoza threw only six interceptions with all those touchdown passes, and he didn’t throw any picks during the College Football Playoff. He also completed 72 percent of his passes, ranking third in the country. Mendoza is widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft and go to the Las Vegas Raiders. He would be the second-ever No. 1 overall pick in program history, joining Corbett Davis in 1938. He’d also be the first Hoosier to go in the first round in over 30 years (Thomas Lewis, 1994).
Girls Basketball State Tournament Draw is Tonight All 391 Indiana High School Basketball Teams will learn their paths to Gainbridge Fieldhouse tonight when the 51st Annual IHSAA Girls Basketball State Parings Show is held from 6-8 PM on IHSAATV.org and Simulcast on Radio Affiliates of the IHSAA Champions Network. The Sectionals will be held with first round action on February 3rd and 4th followed by the Semifinals on the 6th and the Championship games on the 7th. There are four classes in Girls Basketball and there are 64 Sectionals around the State. If the sectional is 5 teams there will be one game on February 3rd. If there are 6 Teams, there will be two games on February 3rd. 7 teams there will be one game on February 3rd and two on February 4th. 8 team Sectionals will have two games on February 3rd and 4th. There are four team sectionals, and they will begin on February 6th.
The Class 4A Sectional 13 will be held at Terre Haute North with five teams that included Bloomington North, Bloomington South, Martinsville, Terre Haute North and Terre Haute South. Edgewood will be the host site for Class 3A Sectional 27 for a six-team sectional that will include Cascade, Indianapolis Washington, Northview, Owen Valley and Speedway. The Class 1A Sectional 61 will be at Clay City and is an eight-team sectional with Bloomfield, Clay City, Coverdale, Dugger Union, Lighthouse Christian, North Central (Farmersburg), Shakamak and White River Valley. The Regional will be a one game two team on February 14th with two Championship Games at each site which will have 16 sites around State with 8 in the North and 8 in the South. The Northern sites are LaPorte, Marion, Jimtown, Belmont, Winamac, Lapel, Warsaw and Frankfort. The Southern sites are -Greenfield, Central, Bedford North Lawrence, Greencastle, Charlestown, Terre Haute North, Jasper, Boonville and Shelbyville.
The Semi State will be a Four Team three Game Format that will have the Semifinals take place in the Morning and Afternoon on February 21st and the Championship Game will take place that evening as 8 sites will host on of the four classes and the parings for the Semi States will take place after the Regional Champions are determined. The four northern sites are LaPorte, Logansport, Huntington North and Frankfort. The four southern sites are Southport, Greencastle, Jasper and Jennings County. It all culminates with the State Finals on February 28th at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis as four State Champions will be crowned. First Session will start at 10:30 AM with the Class 1A followed by Class 2A. The second session will start at 6 PM with Class 3A followed by Class 4A. All tickets will be digital through your mobile phone and may be purchased through event link and the link to each site throughout the state tournament on the IHSAA Girls Basketball Page at www.ihsaa.org. Tickets for the State Finals can be purchased online through Ticketmaster and tickets are one session only.
Indiana University Football Offensive Lineman Carter Smith to Return for the 2026 Season The NFL can wait. All-American left tackle Carter Smith announced Friday evening he is returning to school for his fifth and final year of eligibility. “Sorry to keep you waiting Hoosiers, I’m not going anywhere! Year 5 let’s run it back!” Smith wrote on his X page. Smith was First Team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, and a First Team All-American in 2025. He did not give up a sack all season until the national championship game. Smith provides a returning anchor to the left side of IU’s offensive line. The Hoosiers will also return guards Drew Evans and Bray Lynch up front, and they’ve landed Wisconsin transfer guard Joe Brunner from the transfer portal. Lynch could possibly move to center next season to replace the departing Pat Coogan, while Adedamola Ajani could be in line to start at right tackle, after seeing action there this season.
2026 Indiana University Baseball Season Tickets are on Sale Season tickets for the 2026 baseball campaign are officially on sale as of Thursday (Jan. 22) afternoon. Bart Kaufman Field is set to play host to 24 home contests for the Indiana program this spring, beginning with a Tuesday (Feb. 17) contest against Bradley in February. Reserved chairback season tickets for adults are priced at $210 while youth tickets are $120. For general admission season tickets only, adults get in for $120 and youth get in for $60. All season ticket holders from last year will have the option to renew the same package in their IU account. Single game tickets will go on sale near the beginning of February. Head coach Jeff Mercer is heading into his eighth season in charge of the IU program. His roster features a deep collection of sophomore bats and a veteran pitching staff. Sophomore first baseman Jake Hanley is the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year and is one of three returning starters in the infield. IU’s campaign will begin on February 13th with a three-game set against North Carolina. IU’s first home weekend comes against Washington in the Big Ten opener on March 6th. The Hoosiers will play six home weekend series and six midweek home games in 2026.
Indiana Pacers defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder in an NBA Finals Rematch Andrew Nembhard had 27 points and 11 rebounds, and Jarace Walker added a career-high 26 for the Indiana Pacers, who withstood a late rally to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 117-114 on Friday night in a rematch of last season’s NBA Finals. Walker, whose previous high was 21 points, sank four free throws in the final 10 seconds to lift injury-riddled Indiana (11-35), which snapped a three-game skid. Pascal Siakam added 21 points. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 47 points for the NBA-best Thunder, who were also depleted by injuries with Jalen Williams, Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso among those sidelined. Chet Holmgren added 25 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks. It was the second and final meeting this season between the Pacers and Thunder, whose fortunes have diverged since Indiana star Tyrese Haliburton tore an Achilles tendon early in Game 7 of last season’s NBA finals. Oklahoma City went on to win its first title and has the league’s best record (37-9), although the Thunder have slowed after a 24-1 start.
Oklahoma City trailed 113-103 with 2:35 remaining but pulled within 115-114 on a pair of free throws by Gilgeous-Alexander with 7.8 seconds left. After two free throws by Walker, the Thunder’s Isaiah Joe missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds remaining. Gilgeous-Alexander, the reigning MVP, made 17 of 28 field goals and all 12 free throws, and he scored nine points in the final 2 minutes The Pacers were missing Bennedict Mathurin (thumb), Obi Toppin (ankle) and Quenton Jackson (ankle). Nembhard scored eight points in the first quarter and eight more in the second. His 3-pointer gave Indiana a 47-30 advantage. But Oklahoma City chipped away with a 23-11 run that featured two 3s by Cason Wallace to get within 58-53 at halftime. The Indiana Pacers return to action tonight when they face the Atlanta Hawks on the road at 7:30 PM.