The Indiana Hoosiers are coming off a historic season. Under second-year head coach Curt Cignetti, they went 16-0, nabbing a Big Ten title and winning their first national championship in program history.
The Hoosiers aim to keep that momentum going and repeat their success. They have high expectations for the 2026 college football season. Indiana has the second-best odds to win the Big Ten (+250) and is tied for the third-best odds (+750) to win the national championship, according to DraftKings.
Despite their dominant season, though, not everyone believes the Hoosiers are the team to beat in the Big Ten.
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On Tuesday, On3's Ari Wasserman ranked all 18 Big Ten teams going into the 2026 season. The Hoosiers were placed at No. 3, behind the Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 2) and Oregon Ducks (No. 1).
"The Hoosiers have Curt Cignetti, and nobody has gotten rich betting against the most sensational coach in college football the last two seasons," Wasserman wrote. "Yes, Indiana lost quarterback Fernando Mendoza and receivers Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt to the NFL, but Cignetti and his staff did an amazing job backfilling. Quarterback Josh Hoover comes in from TCU, and receiver Nick Marsh comes from Michigan State, joining fellow receiver Charlie Becker, who returns from last season’s title run."
The biggest difference between last year and this year is the quarterback. Replacing Mendoza, who also became the first Heisman Trophy winner in program history and was selected with the No. 1 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, won't be easy.
However, that responsibility falls on Hoover's shoulders. He was solid last season with TCU, completing 272-of-413 passes for 3,472 yards, 29 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 153.4 passer rating.
While Wasserman has the Buckeyes and Ducks ahead of the Hoosiers, there's no doubt that Cignetti's squad is a true contender. Indiana is set to begin its season against the North Texas Mean Green on Sept. 5.
