'Emotional' Saturday ahead for Indiana’s historic senior class

When Indiana takes the field on Saturday ahead of its matchup with Wisconsin, you might be able to spot a few tears around Memorial Stadium. 

From the fans who have waited decades for a winning football team, to the coaches who made Indiana’s turnaround happen, to the players themselves, Saturday will be filled with much more emotion than the average Week 12 contest.

That’s because Saturday is the last regular-season home game on Indiana’s 2025 schedule, making it senior day for the 28 players with expiring eligibility.

While the College Football Playoff could allow for a home postseason game, the most likely outcome suggests this will be the final time this iteration of the Hoosiers will run out on the field at Memorial Stadium.

It’s been an incredible two seasons under Curt Cignetti, and those who will be recognized on senior day have played such an important role in turning the losingest program in college football history into one that is knocking on the door of a second straight CFP appearance.

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Many of the seniors who will be honored before kickoff on Saturday were former James Madison Dukes under Cignetti, as the coaches and players alike facilitated the transition that allowed Indiana to become a winner so quickly.

“Those guys have been tremendous foundational pieces for the program back at JMU and here at Indiana. They’re great players, great people, great leaders. There’s a number of them,” Cignetti said during his media availability on Monday afternoon.

One of the James Madison transfers who has meant so much to Indiana’s success these past two years is linebacker Aiden Fisher. As a de facto captain on this Hoosier roster and a phenomenal leader day in and day out, it would be hard to find someone who has contributed more toward Indiana’s 21-2 record since Cignetti took over.

“But, you know, this place, Bloomington itself, is just special. And I think it just needed a winner. Finally got it, and we’ve been fully embraced with open arms from everybody,” he explained following practice on Tuesday.

Fisher, in addition to the rest of the senior class, has provided Indiana fans a reason to go to games. The linebacker explained that when he got to Indiana, he didn’t know much about its football culture but quickly realized there wasn’t much enthusiasm surrounding the program.

“Yeah, complete turnaround. When I first got here, you know, I was kind of meeting different athletes, and I was really curious as to why nobody talked about football,” he mentioned.

Fisher explained that he was confused about why no one went to games when he first got to Bloomington, but now everything’s changed. He said his family members have begun struggling to find tickets because every game is sold out, which is night and day compared to how it was before Cignetti and the rest of those from JMU arrived.

It’s been special for Fisher and the rest of the seniors, as Saturday marks the beginning of the end. Yes, Indiana has an entire postseason ahead of it, but playing the last game at Memorial Stadium means something.

Fisher opened up about what he expects his emotions to be like. The Hoosiers obviously remain focused on their championship goals, but they’ll have to fight nostalgia ahead of kickoff against Wisconsin.

“I’m an emotional person. So, you know, when Saturday comes, there might be some moments in there with me and my mom, my sisters, and my stepdad,” he told reporters.

“But just thinking about, you know, when I first got here to where I am now as a person and a player, it’s just been a lot of growth, a lot of struggles, and, you know, a lot of things I’ve had to go through to get to where I’m at.”

It hasn’t been easy. Fisher and the rest of the transfers who came to Indiana in 2024 needed to change a program that seemingly couldn’t be changed. With Cignetti at the helm, the wins started stacking, and the fan support followed. 

It took a lot of growth, both mental and physical, but the Hoosiers who will be recognized on Saturday have seen all the practices, long days and film sessions turn into unparalleled success in Bloomington.

That brings us to tomorrow at noon.

The two-year run with so many key players, those who will live on in Indiana football lore, will see its Memorial Stadium chapter come to a close. It’ll be a joyful setting, as what we’ve seen since December 2023 has been a perfect coming together of a fan base in search of success and players hungry to make it happen.

Fisher explained that this will stir up emotion, and for good reason. The people make the place, and for Indiana these past two years, the people are guys like Fisher. Without them, none of this would’ve been possible.

“I just can’t talk highly enough of Bloomington and this program, this place that has really allowed me to blossom as a person and a player,” he said.

Game Week Q&A: Aiden Fisher, Rolijah Hardy preview Week 12 battle with Wisconsin

Fisher is eternally grateful to the Indiana community, as he and the rest of the seniors have changed the way everyone sees Hoosier football. It’s not the same old losing program that many had grown used to. It’s fast, physical and relentless, but more importantly, it’s a winner.

In the first 23 games of the Cignetti era, there have been so many memorable moments, but this senior class hopes to give Indiana fans one more during the last regular-season home game for so many key players. It’s not the end of this historic 2025 season, but it marks a milestone that is reason for anyone surrounding the program to celebrate.

The Hoosiers have a chance to finish the last two seasons unbeaten at home, and can achieve an 11-0 record with a win against the Badgers. Two historic feats, and they speak volumes to how special this two-year run has been.

And for Fisher, a perfect embodiment of the last two years of Indiana football, he hopes Saturday will be a chance to give back to the place that allowed him and the rest of his senior class to take the college football world by storm.

“I love this place. It’s going to be emotional, but we should give them one last special show before we have a good send-off.”

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