Indiana Hoosiers, the first college football team in over 130 years to finish a season undefeated at 16-0, will celebrate their national championship at the White House on Monday, May 11. This marks the program’s first-ever title and the honor extended to champions for decades.
Remarkable Turnaround Under Coach Cignetti
Head coach Curt Cignetti orchestrated Indiana’s stunning perfect season, culminating in a 27-21 victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the championship game. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza delivered a standout performance, leading the Hoosiers to glory and earning him the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Record-Breaking NFL Draft Success
Indiana set a program record with eight players selected in last week’s draft. In addition to Mendoza, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. went 30th overall to the New York Jets. Other draftees include D’Angelo Ponds (2nd round, Jets), Kaelon Black (3rd round, 49ers), Elijah Sarratt (4th round, Ravens), Riley Nowakowski (5th round, Steelers), Pat Coogan (6th round, Titans), and Aiden Fisher (7th round, Texans).
Historical Milestone
The Hoosiers join Yale’s 1894 squad as only the second team in college football history to achieve a 16-0 record and claim a national championship.
