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Anonymous Big Ten coach predicts Indiana to remain in the hunt for College Football Playoff

Danby:Daniel Hager•06/04/25•

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Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Indiana enjoyed its best season in program history in 2024, as the Hoosiers finished with an 11-2 record and a loss to Notre Dame in its College Football Playoff First Round matchup. An anonymous Big Ten coach predicted Indiana to remain in the hunt for a second consecutive Playoff selection in Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine.

“Everyone is asking who the next Indiana is, but there’s no real reason why it isn’t Indiana again,” the coach said. “Will they win as many games? Probably not, but they’re going to be in the hunt for a playoff spot again.”

In his first season as Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti turned the Hoosiers into a defensive machine. Indiana allowed just 256.3 yards per game (second in NCAA) and just 15.6 points per game (sixth in NCAA). Opponents were held to less than 20 points in nine of its 11 wins, although all nine teams were unranked.

Indiana is poised to once again be a great defense, as it returns big-time playmakers in linebacker Aiden Fisher, defensive back D’Angelo Ponds, defensive back Amare Ferrell and DL Mikail Kamara. Along with a solid returning core, the Hoosiers hauled in the No. 53 ranked recruiting class in the country. This class is headlined (defensively) by Kent State‘s DL Stephen Daley, Maryland EDGE Kellan Wyatt, NC State CB Devan Boykin and Texas State DL Dominique Ratcliff.

Even offensively, Indiana is reloading by replacing Second-team All-Big Ten quarterback Kurtis Rourke with former California quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who passed for 3,000 yards last season.

“Maybe the biggest culture change at a program in the history of the sport,” the anonymous coach said. “IU is a case study for putting your money where your mouth is. They invested heavily in NIL and support. Cig [Curt Cignetti] is a fantastic coach, obviously, but he wouldn’t come without that commitment. That’s how they succeeded immediately.”

Indiana opens the 2025 season on August 30 vs Old Dominion. It once again got an extremely favorable schedule this season, as the Hoosiers play six of their first eight games this season at home.

Indiana 2025 schedule