All articles tagged with #indiana hoosiers
As the transfer portal deadline nears, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Virginia Tech Hokies and Ole Miss Rebels are highlighted as early winners with strong portal hauls and retention, while Iowa State Cyclones suffer a mass exodus after Matt Campbell’s Penn State move (about 55 players left) and Alabama, Washington, and Auburn also face notable losses and depth questions.
At the AFCA Convention, 25 anonymous coaches predicted the College Football Playoff national championship, with 22 choosing Indiana over the Miami Hurricanes. Indiana’s No. 1-ranked, veteran-heavy, well-resourced program under Curt Cignetti is highlighted after a dominant win over Oregon, while Miami counters with transfer portal additions like Carson Beck and a dynamic freshman in Malachi Toney. Coaches praised Indiana’s discipline and decision-making, though many acknowledged the evolving NIL/transfer landscape as a factor in who can win the title, making Indiana the near-unanimous pick among the group.
Indiana’s rapid two-year transformation under Curt Cignetti—from a 3-9 finish to an 11-2 debut and a perfect 15-0 run led by Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, with a national title shot against Miami—is presented alongside a broad survey of historic turnarounds across sports, from Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League title to the 49ers, Celtics, Nets, Mets, Lynx, Penguins and other legendary comebacks.
The article argues that Miami (The U) has a far more impressive NFL Draft pedigree than Indiana, despite both teams contending for the CFP title. Indiana has had only a handful of first‑round picks since 1967 (last top‑five pick in 1966) and a few notable pros, while Miami has produced hundreds of NFL players, about 40 first‑rounders since 1995, and multiple Hall of Famers (Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Warren Sapp, Edgerrin James, Andre Johnson), plus standout runs of talent in 2001–04. It also notes Indiana quarterback‑to‑be Fernando Mendoza could be the latest top pick, and recalls Indiana legends like Pete Pihos, George Taliaferro, and Antwaan Randle El, underscoring the gulf in NFL pedigree between the programs.
Miami is an 8.5-point underdog to Indiana in the CFP title game, aiming to become the third-largest underdog to win a BCS/CFP title since 1998; only two bigger upsets have occurred (Oklahoma 2000, Ohio State 2002). Since 2019, title-game favorites have won and covered in six straight, with Clemson (2018) the last underdog to win. Miami is 3-0 as an underdog this season, while Indiana is 15-0 this year and has predominantly served as the favorite, making a historic upset a high-risk, high-reward path for the Hurricanes.
Indiana fell 81-60 at Michigan State, dropping to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten as the Hoosiers again collapsed after halftime. They committed 14 turnovers, leading to 29 MSU points and thriving in transition for the Spartans, while Indiana’s frontcourt struggled against MSU’s bigs. Tucker DeVries continued a shooting slump from long range, leaving Lamar Wilkerson as the only reliable 3-point threat. Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr. dominated with 23 points and 10 assists, helping the Spartans pull away late.
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said Indiana is formidable in basketball and even joked that it's a good thing MSU won't face Indiana’s football team; he noted IU’s 16-point lead over Nebraska before the rally, and previewed the Spartans' home game against the Hoosiers.
ESPN analyst Greg McElroy predicts the Indiana Hoosiers will complete a historic 16-0 season by defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-20 in the CFP National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium, praising Indiana’s consistency and Mendoza’s efficiency while forecasting a competitive but ultimately decisive late push by the Hoosiers.
Nebraska's basketball team, led by a career-high 27 points from Jamarques Lawrence, overcame a 16-point second-half deficit to beat Indiana 83-77, marking their first 16-0 start in school history and extending their winning streak to 20 games.
Ticket prices for the Miami-Indiana national championship game in South Florida have soared, with lowest prices reaching nearly $3,800 and average prices around $6,382, reflecting a significant increase from previous years, driven by local interest and the teams' regional ties.
Oregon Ducks suffered a heavy 56-22 defeat to Indiana Hoosiers in the Peach Bowl, ending their playoff run and paving the way for Indiana to advance to the CFP National Championship, with national reactions highlighting Oregon's struggles and Indiana's dominance.
Indiana's football team has unexpectedly dominated the college football playoff, defeating top teams like Ohio State, Alabama, and Oregon with a well-rounded, relentless approach, emphasizing the importance of avoiding complacency as they prepare for the upcoming championship game against Miami.
The Oregon Ducks suffered a 56-22 defeat to No. 1 Indiana in the Peach Bowl, marked by early turnovers and a poor first-half performance, ending their season in a heavy blowout and preventing their first national championship.
Curt Cignetti, the successful Indiana football coach, has a high buyout clause and could attract NFL interest despite limited coaching experience at that level, especially if NFL teams are looking for a proven winner like him to develop players such as Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
The article discusses how Curt Cignetti has brought a new era to college football, prompting a need to rethink how the sport is analyzed, highlighted by Indiana Hoosiers' dominant win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl.