Along with delivering a historic 16-0 season that culminated in a National Championship, Curt Cignetti has led the Indiana football program to unprecedented heights in the NFL Draft.
Last month, Indiana took over the 2026 NFL Draft in record-breaking fashion. The Hoosiers set a program record by having eight players selected, which broke the previous program record of seven that came 50 years ago in 1976.
Furthermore, multiple Hoosiers were selected in the First Round for the first time ever. The draft class was headlined by Heisman Trophy-winning QB Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. WR Omar Cooper Jr. followed Mendoza as another Hoosier First Round selection by going 30th overall to the New York Jets.
The NFL schedule for all 32 teams was officially released last week, meaning that Indiana football fns now know when their favorite players will be taking the field at the NFL level. With so many Hoosiers now on to the NFL ranks, there is one particular upcoming matchup this fall that presents a massive Indiana reunion.
Week 8 matchup between Raiders and Jets presents massive Indiana reunion
In Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season, the Raiders will travel to the Meadowlands to take on the Jets on Sunday, November 1. The game will feature plenty of Hoosier talent.
After taking Cooper in the First Round, the Jets then selected Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds in the Second Round with the 50th overall pick. Assuming he is the starting QB at that point in time, that means Mendoza will be attacking a New York defense led by his former teammate. That alone is enough to make the meeting a must-watch even for all Hoosier football fans, but that's not where the Indiana reunion ends.
NFL leaves Fernando Mendoza in the dark with glaring hole in Raiders schedule
A total of five former Hoosiers are on the roster for Las Vegas: QB Fernando Mendoza, RB Roman Hemby, WR Jonathan Brady, WR E.J. Williams Jr, and TE Ian Thomas.
On the other side, New York's current roster features a trio of former Hoosiers: WR Omar Cooper Jr, S D'Angelo Ponds, and LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball.
A lot can change between now and then, but potentially having eight former Hoosiers on the field in the same game makes for a great NFL showcase for the Indiana football program. Hoosier fans won't want to miss this one.
Full list of Indiana draft picks in 2026 NFL Draft
- QB Fernando Mendoza:Â Round 1, Pick 1 (Las Vegas Raiders)
- WR Omar Cooper Jr:Â Round 1, Pick 30 (New York Jets)
- CB D'Angelo Ponds:Â Round 2, Pick 50 (New York Jets)
- RB Kaelon Black:Â Round 3, Pick 50 (San Francisco 49ers)
- WR Elijah Sarratt:Â Round 4, Pick 115 (Baltimore Ravens)
- TE Riley Nowakowski:Â Round 5, Pick 169 (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- C Pat Coogan:Â 6th Round, Pick 194 (Tennessee Titans)
- LB Aiden Fisher:Â 7th Round, Pick 243 (Houston Texans)
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