Indiana Proves the Big Ten’s Football Dominance Is More About Depth Than Big Brands
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- Indiana University completed a perfect 16–0 season by winning the 2026 College Football Playoff national championship, defeating Miami 27–21 in a dramatic game at Hard Rock Stadium.
- Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti praised Indiana's rapid transformation and the conference's dominance, marking the third consecutive national title for the Big Ten, a feat not achieved since the early 1940s.
- Indiana's victory is notable as the team had no five-star recruits and overcame long odds, signaling that other Big Ten programs beyond traditional powerhouses like Michigan and Ohio State can compete at the highest level.
- Petitti, despite previous controversies over postseason expansion and conference asset management, appeared jubilant and confident about the Big Ten's future
