Snubbed, overlooked, given no credit and disrespected that is just a few of the adjectives Indiana football fans are feeling after seeing their initial Associated Press rankings.
The initial AP Poll Top 25 rankings for the 2025 season are officially out, with the Indiana Hoosiers landing in at No. 20.
Indiana is sixth in the Big Ten, trailing No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Oregon, No. 12 Illinois, and No. 14 Michigan.
Indiana was ranked No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll, and the Hoosiers are projected to finish sixth in the preseason Big Ten poll posted annually by Cleveland.com.
The Hoosiers were ranked as high as No. 5 in 2024, the program's highest ranking since 1945 and spent five weeks in the top 10. Indiana closed out the season as the No. 9 ranked team in the country after losing in the first-round of the College Football Playoff to Notre Dame.
The fact that Indiana only is ranked No. 20 is disrepetful to Curt Cignetti and what they returned in 2025. They were able to fill holes on the offensive line with Khalil Benson and Pat Coogan while also replacing their star quarterback Kurtis Rourke with Fernando Mendoza from Cal. At the skill positions they added Roman Hemby and Lee Beebe Jr while retaining Omar Cooper and Elijah Sarratt.
On defense IU returned three AP All-Americans in linebacker Aiden Fisher, edge rusher Mikial Kamara and cornerback D'Angelo Ponds while also adding Hosea Wheeler and Devan Boykin through the transfer portal.
Indiana will be better in 2025 overall with the overall added depth on both sides of the ball and speed on defense. The retain the majority of their staff, entering their second year at Indiana I predict they will go 10-2 again this season and will be fighting for another CFB Playoff spot in 2025-26.
Indiana opens the 2025 season against Old Dominion on August 30th. Below you can see the full AP Poll Top 25 rankings.
AP Poll Top 25 rankings for 2025 season
Texas
Penn State
Ohio State
Clemson
Georgia
Notre Dame
Oregon
Alabama
LSU
Miami
Arizona State
Illinois
South Carolina
Michigan
Florida
SMU
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Texas A&M
Indiana
Ole Miss
Iowa State
Texas Tech
Tennessee
Boise State
Others receiving votes: BYU, Utah, Baylor, Louisville, USC, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Tulane, Nebraska, UNLV, Toledo, Auburn, James Madison, Memphis, Florida State, Duke, Liberty, Navy, Iowa, TCU, Pitt, Army, Colorado, Louisiana-Lafayette.