What Curt Cignetti has done in Bloomington is nothing short of extraordinary. Taking over the program with the most losses in college football history, Cignetti has led Indiana to a 27-2 record, a Big Ten title, and a historic National Championship.
The road to last year's undefeated 16-0 season included regular season wins against No. 9 Illinois by a score of 63-10, a huge road win at No. 3 Oregon 30-20, and a thrilling 27-24 win at Penn State. The Hoosiers then took down No. 1 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, and defeated Alabama, Oregon, and Miami (FL) to claim the national title.
The key transfer portal dates all Indiana basketball fans need to know
Looking ahead to Indiana's 2026 schedule, several key matchups are on the docket. The non-conference schedule is extremely manageable and the Hoosiers have just four road games on the schedule. With that being said, there are still multiple matchups that will be tough assignments for the Hoosiers.
These 3 matchups could make or break Indiana's 2026 season
The Hoosiers will enter the 2026 season without many vital pieces from last year's title team. Most notably, QB Fernando Mendoza, WR Omar Cooper Jr, WR Elijah Sarratt, C Pat Coogan, LB Aiden Fisher, CB DAngelo Ponds, and RB Roman Hemby are all on to the next level. Cignetti re-tooled Indiana's with a top-20 recruiting class and 17 incoming transfers through the portal, and Hoosier fans are excited to see those new faces in action.
The 2026 schedule is fairly favorable, as Indiana's win total of 10.5 is tied with Oregon for the highest in the Big Ten. However, these three games will be big tests for IU's new-look roster in 2026.
vs. Ohio State (October 17)
The Buckeyes will undoubtedly be looking for revenge on October 17 when they travel to Bloomington to take on the Hoosiers. Indiana took down Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game last December in a 13-10 slugfest, and Ryan Day's team currently has the shortest odds to win the National Championship next season on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith are both back, and both are among the early Heisman favorites for 2026. The Buckeyes face an extremely tough schedule, and this trip to Indiana in Week 7 has early Game of the Year potential.
at Michigan (October 24)
The week after hosting the Buckeyes, Indiana hits the road to face the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor. Needless to say, facing Ohio State and Michigan in back-to-back weeks is a tough draw.
Michigan has endured a tumultuous offseason, and Kyle Whittingham is now at the helm. Whittingham built one of the most consistent and under-the-radar programs in the country during his 20 seasons at Utah, and is set for a strong first season with the Wolverines. Former 5-star recruit Bryce Underwood now has a season of experience under his belt, and he is looking to take a big step forward in his sophomore season.
at Washington (November 21)
The Hoosiers have made one west coast trip in each of the last two seasons since the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams. They defeated UCLA 42-13 in 2024 and took down No. 3 Oregon 30-20 last season in Eugene. In 2026, IU heads to Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies on November 21.
QB Demond Williams is back after accumulating nearly 3,700 total yards and racking up 31 total touchdowns last season. Head coach Jedd Fisch is entering his third season with the Huskies, and expectations continue to mount. Washington improved from 6-7 in his first season to 9-4 last year, and if Williams continues to develop, he is capable of leading Washington to a strong campaign. It's also worth mentioning that Husky Stadium is one of the toughest places to play. This should be an exciting matchup to watch unfold.