Back in November 2023, Curt Cignetti took over an Indiana football program that not only had the most losses in college football history, but had gone just 3-14 in Big Ten play over the previous three seasons. He wasted no time turning things around in a major way.
In his first season in Bloomington, Cignetti led Indiana to an 11-1 regular season and qualified for the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers were viewed as the darlings of the college football world, but a first round exit in the CFP ended the season without a postseason win.
Then the 2025 season happened. Cignetti proved that 2024 was no fluke, as he orchestrated the greatest season in Indiana football history by leading IU to a perfect 16-0 record and a historic National Championship.
Heading into Year 3, Hoosier fans have plenty of confidence in Indiana's staying power with Cignetti at the helm. Now, oddsmakers agree too.
Indiana among the CFP favorites in 2026
Indiana's win total for 2026 is listed at 10.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook, which is tied with Oregon for the highest mark in the Big Ten. But oddsmakers are taking their faith in the Hoosiers one step further when it comes to CFP betting odds.
The Hoosiers are overwhelmingly expected to make the CFP for a third straight season under Cignetti in 2026. With odds of -330, Indiana has the shortest odds to make the CFP among all Big Ten teams. Furthermore, those odds of -330 are the third-shortest among all teams in the entire country, trailing only Notre Dame at -700 and Texas Tech at -370.
Big Ten odds to make/miss the CFP
— Josh Pate (@JoshPateCFB) April 9, 2026
per @FDSportsbook pic.twitter.com/DhlgdcAsTA
Indiana's 2026 CFP-qualifying odds show just how far the Hoosier football program has come under Cignetti's leadership.
Entering his first season in 2024, IU had odds of +5000 to make the CFP. Hoosier fans knew Cignetti gave IU plenty of staying power back then, but it took oddsmakers a while to come around. Even after making the 12-team playoff field in 2024, the Hoosiers had odds of +610 to make the CFP heading into the 2025 season. Now after back-to-back CFP appearances and a national title, IU's odds of -330 to make the CFP signal high expectations for Cignetti and company.
The Hoosiers are no longer a long shot or an underdog: They are expected to make the CFP. Imagine telling that to a college football fan back in 2021. Oh how the times have changed.
Betting odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
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