The Indiana Hoosiers are 27-2 since hiring head coach Curt Cignetti.

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Indiana’s rise to the top of the College Football mountain has been straight out of Hollywood.

When Curt Cignetti arrived in Bloomington in December 2023, there wasn’t much expectation. His “Google me” comments gained some headlines, but no one took them seriously.

I mean, Indiana? Seriously?

Well, a 27-2 record since his arrival, a Big Ten title, a national championship and a 9.90 BiteScore in 2025 have cemented Indiana as a football powerhouse. Arguably the greatest turnaround in sports history has flipped everyone’s perception of the Hoosiers just like that.

Now, Cignetti is being asked to work his portal magic once again. The Hoosier’s average age rivaled that of NFL teams last season, so obviously 2026 will be quite a big transition year. They had eight players drafted, including six offensive players.

That’s a lot of turnover, but you could argue this transfer class is even better than last year’s. Josh Hoover (TCU) is one of the most exciting transfer QBs, RB Turbo Richard (Boston College) had nearly 1000 all-purpose yards and 11 TDs last year, and Nick Marsh (Michigan State) and Shazz Preston (Tulane) are both very exciting receivers. Pair them with the returning Charlie Becker, and the receiving core will be a dangerous group.

Up front, Cignetti retained his All-American left tackle Carter Smith, and guards Bray Lynch and Drew Evans. He also nabbed Joe Brunner (Wisconsin), one of the best linemen from the portal.

On defense, he beefed up the front by bringing in linemen Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame) and Joe Hjelle (Tulsa), as well as two Kansas State edges in Chiddi Obiazor and Tobi Osunsanmi. Each of them are seasoned starters who bring the kind of experience Cignetti favors in his transfers. Those guys mix in with some proven returners like linemen Mario Landino, Tyrique Tucker and Daniel Ndukwe to create a scary defensive front.

Finally, there are some good additions in the secondary like corners AJ Harris (Penn State), Carson Williams (Montana State), and safety Jiquan Sanks (Cincinnati). Overall, it was a great transfer cycle for the Hoosiers, and they should be dangerous once again.

The Hoosiers have no real tests in their non-conference. However, they have a tough three week stretch in October when they travel to Lincoln to face Nebraska, return home for the Big Ten Championship rematch against Ohio State, and then travel to the Big House to take on Michigan. Otherwise, they don’t have much to worry about besides games against USC and at Washington in November.

There are some ridiculously high expectations for Indiana in 2026, but it wouldn’t be crazy to think they can live up to them. The argument could be made that this transfer class is even better than last year’s, who won a Natty. It will be extremely hard to repeat as Champions, but Cignetti silenced a lot of doubters last year. Who says he can’t do it again?

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