The Indiana Hoosiers have taken the college football world by storm under Curt Cignetti. Indiana has gone 27-2 over the last two seasons and are coming off a historic 16-0 season and National Championship. Heading into the new 2026-27 season, the Hoosier momentum isn't showing any signs of slowing down.
The Georgia Bulldogs were able to win back-to-back national titles just a few years ago in 2021-22 and 2022-23. If the Hoosiers are going to repeat as National Champions this season, these three things need to go right.
The quarterback transition has to be seamless
Following in the footsteps of Fernando Mendoza is no easy task. Mendoza needed just one season in Bloomington to cement his legacy as a Hoosier legend. Mendoza's elite skill set consisting of a tremendous football IQ, pin-point accuracy, and strong athleticism, as well as off-the-charts intangibles including an extreme dedication to preparation, made him a National Champion, Heisman Trophy winner, and No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft in the same season. Needless to say, that is a tough act to follow.
Curt Cignetti's 2027 recruiting class has all the components of an elite haul
Cignetti utilized the portal to bring in former TCU gunslinger Josh Hoover to be Indiana's QB1 for 2026. Hoover brings 36 games and 31 starts of collegiate experience to Bloomington, and he's racked up 7,629 passing yards and 79 total touchdowns in his career. He has plenty of potential, but if Indiana is going to repeat as champions, Hoover's transition into the Hoosier offense needs to be seamless. He doesn't need to post Mendoza-type numbers, but he needs to lead the offense confidently and take care of the football.
The running game can't miss a beat without Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black
Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black made up one of the most lethal RB combinations in college football last season. Both backs ran for 1,000+ yards and combined for a total of 17 rushing touchdowns. However, both are now off to the NFL. With both Hemby and Black gone, it is imperative that Indiana's rushing attack doesn't miss a beat.
The good news is that sophomore Khobie Martin is poised for a larger role, and Boston College RB Turbo Richard brings a dynamic skill set to Bloomington. Martin totaled 505 yards on 78 carries last season, and his 6.5 yards per carry led the Hoosiers. The Fishers, IN native also found the end zone 6 times. Looking ahead, Martin could be in line for a breakout sophomore campaign.
Richard took on a leading role with Boston College last season, as he ran for 749 yards and 9 touchdowns while also hauling in 30 catches for 213 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the passing game. Together, Martin and Richard figure to see the bulk of the workload in the IU backfield this season. Their respective performances will play a huge role in Indiana's National Championship chances.
The secondary needs to shine
Indiana's defense brings back six starters from last year's title team. Most notably, starting defensive tackles Tyrique Tucker and Mario Landino are back along with linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones. The Hoosiers also added Kansas State EDGE Tobi Osunsanmi in the portal, meaning the front-7 appear to be in good shape. However, the secondary is where some question marks arise.
D'Angelo Ponds and Louis Moore are both off to the NFL, leaving the IU secondary with some big shoes to fill. Cignetti brought in cornerback AJ Harris from Penn State, and safety Preston Zachman from Wisconsin, and it will be interesting to see how they begin the new season. Cornerback Amare Ferrell is poised for a starting role, and a lot figures to be asked of him. The secondary isn't a glaring weakness, but if IU is going to win back-to-back titles, this new-look group needs to rise up in a major way.
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