All articles tagged with #indiana hoosiers
Indiana moved on from Alberto Mendoza in favor of Josh Hoover, while Mendoza heads to Georgia Tech to run a far more complex, fast-paced offense under QB coach Chris Weinke and offensive coordinator George Godsey. The former backup, who hasn’t started a game since high school, must prove himself in Tech’s expansive playbook and high-pressure system as Indiana begins a new QB era.
CBS Sports projects the 2026 AP Top 25 preseason poll, with Ohio State at No. 1 and a Big Ten-heavy top five including Oregon, Texas, Indiana, and Notre Dame; Georgia is No. 6, as the piece outlines expected voter trends and momentum for the upcoming season.
Purdue’s newly hired athletic director Tommy McClelland fired off a posturing dig at Indiana during his intro press conference, then quickly backpedaled after backlash, apologizing on The Pat McAfee Show and reaffirming a plan to build championship programs at Purdue. The moment overshadowed a day meant to kick off his tenure, arriving as Purdue battles a recent slide (7-29 over three seasons, including 3-24 in Big Ten play and 0-9 in conference last year) and as Indiana, coming off an undefeated season and its first football national title, has added motivation in the rivalry.
Purdue introduced Tommy McClelland as its new athletic director and he immediately framed the job as a championship-driven mission, joking that 'If you don't want to win championships, go to Indiana.' He acknowledged Indiana's undefeated national-title run but said Purdue must raise the bar across all programs, pointing to past success in basketball and volleyball while noting football's recent struggles and the need for broader improvement.
Indiana defensive lineman Stephen Daley returns in a limited capacity as fall camp opens after a knee injury cut short his season; a federal court ruling granted him another year of eligibility, and coach Curt Cignetti says he’ll be brought along gradually with no timetable for a full return or the season opener.
At Big Ten media days, Curt Cignetti declares the Big Ten the best in football and chides the SEC for a supposed superiority complex, arguing success is earned and not whined; the remarks come amid a shifting narrative after Big Ten titles and Indiana’s claimed national championship, with Indiana’s title defense opener set for Sept. 5 against North Texas and possible postseason SEC matchups on the horizon.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti called out unnamed SEC teams at Big Ten media days, boasting that Indiana has earned its success and doesn’t whine. Critics counter that the Hoosiers’ upcoming schedule is unusually soft early in the season, sparking a debate over which conference faces tougher challenges as kickoff nears.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti told Big Ten media days IU will pursue daily improvement and maintain its core identity despite 17 transfers, with Josh Hoover in as a one-year QB not tasked with carrying the offense, while the team leans on run game, defense and special teams; preseason camp will include an offensive-line shuffle (Ajani to guard, Brunner to tackle) to build depth for inevitable injuries.
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti used Big Ten media days to tout the conference as the best in college football, brushing off SEC dominance, highlighting Indiana's rise and new recruit Monshun Sales, and signaling his program will stay hungry with a no-nonsense, earned-not-given approach while guarding against complacency.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti used Big Ten media day to push a relentlessly earned-success narrative, brushing off SEC hype, claiming Indiana’s recent 16-0 national-title run and 27-2 record over two years, while joking and delivering sharp, candid quotes about NIL, recruiting, and staying hungry as the season approaches.
Curt Cignetti used Big Ten media day to stress Indiana’s culture, development-first approach, and staff continuity, framing a process-driven plan over chasing championships. He highlighted last season’s top-10 wins and growing depth through transfers (including Nick Marsh), compared QBs Josh Hoover and Fernando Mendoza, and reiterated a stable blueprint as the team integrates new pieces, all while acknowledging the Big Ten’s grind and the importance of consistency.
At the 2026 Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, Indiana coach Curt Cignetti argued the Big Ten is the best and stressed a relentless, development-first approach after the Hoosiers’ title; Michigan’s incoming coach Kyle Whittingham arrived with high expectations and a talented roster, while Northwestern carried hometown swagger with Chip Kelly’s offense and transfer Aidan Chiles, as the conference spotlight also touched Nebraska’s rebuild under Matt Rhule and Maryland’s continued push to capitalize on returning production.
The Las Vegas Raiders announced the signing of first-round quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, a 6‑5, 225-pound prospect, split his college career between California (2022‑24) and Indiana (2025), totaling 8,247 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions in 36 games (35 starts). He led Indiana to an undefeated 16‑0 national championship season in 2025, throwing 41 TDs on 3,535 yards with just six interceptions and earning multiple major awards. Mendoza’s college résumé includes a 72.0% completion rate in 2025 and a string of records and accolades, positioning him as the Raiders’ future at quarterback.
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti landed consensus five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales, marking his first five-star commit and the program’s highest-rated recruit, as Indiana’s undefeated 2025 national championship run reshapes perceptions of the Hoosiers’ recruiting prowess and signals a potential burst of top-100 talent joining Cig’s program.
Indiana landed its first-ever five-star recruit with Monshun Sales, a 6-5, 201-pound WR from Lawrence North, who committed on The Pat McAfee Show over Alabama, Texas, Ohio State and LSU; ranked among the top prospects in the 2027 class (No. 7 overall by On3/Rivals, No. 13 by 247Sports), joining IU’s in-state pipeline and boosting the Hoosiers’ recruiting momentum under coach Curt Cignetti.