First look: Where IU football stands in early top 25 rankings for 2026 season
Inside the Hall • • sports
Key Points:
- Indiana University (IU) football won its first national championship by defeating Miami (FL) at Hard Rock Stadium, marking a historic turnaround under coach Curt Cignetti.
- Despite losing key players including Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, IU is ranked highly in early 2026 top 25 preseason polls, with ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, and The Sporting News placing them at No. 1.
- The Hoosiers have secured a strong transfer class led by TCU quarterback Josh Hoover, who is expected to replace Mendoza, along with significant additions across multiple positions to sustain their competitive edge.
- Analysts note IU's continued success in the transfer portal and a solid recruiting class, emphasizing that while the team faces heavy losses to
