After years of struggling near the bottom of the NCAA with a roughly .700 losing record, Indiana University reversed course and significantly improved its performance. Over the past two years, Indiana University has transformed its football program. The Hoosiers finished the 2024 season with a 13–2 record, followed by an undefeated 2025 campaign that resulted in a national championship. 

 The arrival of head coach Curt Cignetti drove this turnaround. Hired from James Madison University, Cignetti brought a proven system and a clear vision for success. He utilized the transfer portal to bring in several former JMU players from the program’s successful 2022 season, accelerating Indiana’s rebuild and reshaping the roster almost immediately. 

By leveraging age and experience through the transfer portal, Cignetti shifted away from recruiting younger players. Instead, he targeted older players to anchor the roster. As a result, during the 2025 season, Indiana’s football team had an average player age of 24, underscoring the program’s emphasis on maturity and experience. 

The Hoosiers appear poised for another strong season next year. Indiana is expected to once again take advantage of the transfer portal, with recruiting efforts set to begin in the coming weeks as the program looks to sustain its recent success.