The Indiana football program has taken over the college football world over the last two seasons. With Curt Cignetti leading the way, the Hoosiers have gone from an overlooked program to a national powerhouse.
Indiana's perfect 16-0 season ended in a historic National Championship over four months ago, but the Hoosiers are still dominating national headlines. On Tuesday, Cignetti and Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza graced TIME Magazine's inaugural TIME 100 list of the most influential figures in sports for 2026.
Curt Cignetti and Fernando Mendoza featured in TIME's list of the 100 most influential people in sports
The list showcases the top athletes, businesspeople, and influencers across the globe.
Cignetti is featured in the "Titan"s category alongside figures like Victor Wembanyama, Rory McIlroy, Aaron Judge, Christiano Ronaldo, Mike Tirico, and Jack Hughes, among others. Cignetti is the only college football coach featured on the list. Only four coaches in total amde the cut, as Cignetti is joined by South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, and horse trainer Cherie DeVaux.
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Mendoza is featured in the "Leaders" group, joining Prince Harry, Myles Garrett, Steph Curry, Dana White, Shams Charania, and more. The Hoosier gunslinger is the only quarterback featured on the list. He is one of just four NFL players on the list, even though he has yet to play a snap at the NFL level. Other football players on the list include Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, and Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Cignetti and Mendoza being among the star-studded group continue to show the incredible rise of the IU football program.
Indiana's incredible rise continues with TIME honor for Cignetti and Mendoza
It wasn't that long ago when an honor like this for Indiana football was thought to be impossible. Indiana has a proud football history, but had fallen on tough times in recent years. But now after a perfect 16-0 season and national title, multiple Hoosiers are receiving plenty of love on the TIME100. What a turnaround!
What Cignetti has done in Bloomington is among the greatest turnarounds in sports history. Cignetti is 27-2 at the helm of the Indiana program, and he led the Hoosiers to their best season in program history this past season. Both Cignetti and Mendoza are now household names across the country, and this honor from TIME takes their college football takeover to an international level.
Looking ahead, it's clear that the Hoosiers have plenty of staying power under Cignetti. Indiana is among the early favorites to win the National Championship this upcoming season. Mendoza is off to the NFL, and after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft, he is already generating plenty of buzz. Hoosier fans everywhere are excited to see what he can do at the next level.
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