The Indiana Hoosiers stand one game away from college football history. At 15-0, they’ll face Miami in the national championship game with a chance to become the first team since 1894 to finish a perfect 16-0 season.
Only five teams in the modern era have reached 15-0. The last perfect season came from Yale in 1894, back when players wore leather helmets and the forward pass didn’t exist.
Indiana’s path makes this run even more stunning.
The Hoosiers entered the season without a single five-star recruit. Second-year coach Curt Cignetti built this team through development and precision rather than elite talent.
This is the same program that’s been one of the Big Ten’s most consistent rebuilding projects for decades.
Indiana announced its arrival with a 56-22 demolition of Oregon in the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers forced three first-half turnovers and led 35-7 at halftime. Oregon managed just nine rushing yards before the break.
Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes in that game. His postseason surge has boosted his NFL Draft stock significantly.
Indiana’s defense set the tone immediately. They returned the game’s first interception for a touchdown just 11 seconds into the contest.
The Hoosiers followed that performance with a 38-3 rout of Alabama in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal. They’ve gained momentum with every playoff snap.
Championship Showdown
Indiana travels south to face Miami on Jan. 19 at Hard Rock Stadium. They’re chasing a perfect season that would stand alone in over a century of college football.
The transformation under Cignetti has been remarkable. What started as another rebuilding project has become a historic run toward perfection.
